NBC News lays off nearly a dozen staffers who supported MSNBC as spinoff nears
NBC News staffers who provided graphics support to both sister network MSNBC and the mothership division have been laid off from their jobs ahead of corporate parent Comcast’s spinoff of its cable division into a new company, according to a report.Fewer than a dozen staffers were shown the door at 30 Rock recently as preparations are being made for a new company called Versant to absorb MSNBC, according to the Status newsletter.The first casualties of the imminent divorce were in NBC’s graphics unit, which had historically supported both NBC News and MSNBC.With MSNBC and CNBC preparing to exit into Versant, the shared graphics team was reorganized, Status reported.Some employees shifted to Versant, others remained with NBC News but several were cut entirely, according to the newsletter.Fewer than a dozen full-time staffers were affected, along with a number of freelancers, according to insiders.The layoffs are seen as the opening round of a larger wave expected once Versant formally launches.The Post has sought comment from MSNBC and NBC News.Comcast is spinning off MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, SYFY, E! and Golf Channel — along with digital properties including Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, and GolfNow — into Versant, a publicly traded company slated to debut by the end of 2025 under the ticker VSNT.The transaction is structured to be tax-free for Comcast shareholders, who will receive shares in the new entity.
Versant will start life with about $7 billion in annual revenue and relatively little debt, designed to give it stability as a standalone cable-and-digital player.Comcast will keep NBC broadcast, Peacock, Telemundo, Bravo, Universal Studios and theme parks — the growth engines in streaming and broadband.Starting Oct.20, NBC News staffers will no longer appear on MSNBC.Joint editorial meetings will end, and the two will no longer share content except for NBC’s Decision Desk, which MSNBC will use through the end of the year for election coverage.
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