Posted: Wed., Apr. 15, 2009, 9:38pm PT

Usen to cut 25% of staff

Japan conglom to reduce workforce by August

By Mark Schilling

TOKYO -- Media conglom Usen plans to reduce a quarter of its workforce by August 2010, including offering early retirement to 600 staffers.

Usen, whose divisions include broadcasting, Internet, retail and a karaoke subsid, said its pic distrib Gaga Communications will not be affected by the cuts. 

Early retirees will be 35 years or older but those in marketing or sales need not apply, a rep said.

Usen racked up $539 million in pretax losses for the first quarter of fiscal 2008, ending in November 2008. Earlier this month, it inked a deal with Yahoo Japan to sell Gyao, a video portal site that has been a money drain since its launch in April 2005.