Key Points
- NBC Universal is cutting several hundred positions from its Global Streaming Technology organization, including engineering and quality assurance roles.
- Most of the reductions are expected at Comcast’s European media operation Sky, though some U.S.-based NBC Universal employees will also be affected.
- Employees were notified last week; the final number of positions eliminated will depend partly on employee consultation requirements in the United Kingdom.
NBC Universal is cutting several hundred positions from its global streaming technology operation, with most of the reductions affecting employees at Comcast’s European media business Sky.
The layoffs will affect NBC Universal’s Global Streaming Technology organization, including engineering and quality assurance teams, according to Reuters and Business Insider. Some U.S.-based NBC Universal employees will also lose their jobs.
Employees were informed of the reductions Wednesday. The final number of jobs eliminated will depend partly on consultations with affected workers, including a process required under British labor rules before some dismissals can take effect.
“As NBCUniversal and Sky continue to invest in our streaming products and technology, we are proposing changes to our Global Streaming Technology organization, which will impact some roles,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “This evolution will ensure we have the right structure and resources in place for future growth and enable us to better serve our customers and partners.”
The reductions come as NBC Universal and other major media companies continue efforts to improve the economics of their streaming businesses following years of substantial spending on programming and technology. Peacock, the company’s flagship streaming service in the United States, achieved profitability for the first time over the summer; executives have downplayed any interest in expanding the platform’s footprint globally.
Earlier in the year, NBC Universal laid off workers at its Showmax streaming service in Africa, which was operated through a joint venture with Canal Plus.
Comcast is in the process of spinning out NBC Universal into its own company, one that will include Peacock, NBC and Bravo in the United States and Sky Group overseas. Sky is awaiting regulatory approval to close on its $2.1 billion acquisition of public service broadcaster ITV, which was announced in July.
