MTV New Year’s Resolution: Layoffs and Cutbacks
By Morelli
MTV UK, part of Viacom’s MTV Networks division, is to cut up to 80 jobs – around 10% of its workforce – as part of Viacom’s global plan to save $250m in 2009.
This is predictable after Viacom announced 850 worldwide layoffs earlier this month, and regional detail has surfaced through Guardian.co.uk, on what, for many media workers, is the big New Year’s resolution.
People losing their jobs is not very reassuring at all, and the broadcaster confirmed it was looking at a “number of options including outsourcing.” One source said: “They are planning to outsource all of their stuff. Everyone is panicking down there.”
Does this mean more work for independents? Or does it just mean Viacom wants to continue prioritizing advertising budgets and sink money in other “more important” areas? It will be seen in the near future what kind of programming MTV presents.
Source: The Guardian
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:44AM
[...] Virgin closed its megastores, EMI fired one-third of its workforce, and MTV parent Viacom announced 850 layoffs worldwide. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as nearly all major players undertook similar cost [...]