NBCUniversal is conducting another round of layoffs, the company announced Tuesday, which is hitting NBC’s locally owned stations.
News is trickling out about those who were affected. At least two people on the sports side of the network have posted about being let go, including NBC Washington longtime sports anchor Michael Jenkins, who said after 16 years he is no longer employed at the D.C. station.
“Boy, have I been dreading the day when I would have to write something like this, but here goes: This morning, I was laid off by @NBCWashington after 16 years,” he said.
Boy, have I been dreading the day when I would have to write something like this, but here goes:
This morning, I was laid off by @NBCSWashington after 16 years. pic.twitter.com/s5TeucL5Lu
— Michael Jenkins (@JenksNBCS) August 3, 2020
NBC sports anchor Sara Perlman also posted about the recent news. Her show, The Daily Line, isn’t coming back, and she is also leaving.
“Thank you for everything @NBCSports,” she wrote.
Thank you for everything @NBCSports ♥️ pic.twitter.com/0aKRhQomWF
— Sara Perlman (@saraperlman) August 3, 2020
In Chicago, blogger Robert Feder said at least three properties—WMAQ, WSNS and NBC Sports Chicago—were hit. Per Feder:
The company would not confirm the number of employees affected, but sources said seven jobs were cut today at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 and Telemundo WSNS-Channel 44, mostly in technical areas. More than a dozen were believed to have been fired from numerous departments at NBC Sports Chicago, which is in a separate division of the company.
Cuts were made in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Approximately 10% of NBC’s workforce of about 35,000 full-time employees is being let go.