NBC News is undergoing significant restructuring amid broader industry challenges and a major corporate spinoff. Reports indicate that the network is preparing for substantial layoffs, with insiders estimating around 150 job cuts—representing approximately 7% of its roughly 2,100-person workforce.
These reductions are tied to the impending separation of NBC News from its cable siblings, MSNBC and CNBC, as parent company Comcast finalizes the launch of "SpinCo" (potentially rebranded as Versant) in late 2025. The cuts aim to streamline operations, reduce costs, and shift focus toward digital and growth areas like sports coverage and global newsgathering.
This follows smaller rounds of layoffs earlier in the year, including about 40 positions in January 2025 (around 3% of the core news division's 1,500 staffers), which were part of a pivot to digital-first strategies. However, the October developments mark a sharper escalation, with staff at the iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters (affectionately called "30 Rock") expressing widespread anxiety over the scale and speed of the changes.
One report highlighted anxiety over the "imminent layoffs" rattling the newsroom, with many bracing for impacts across departments like editorial, production, and digital.Union tensions exacerbate the dread.
The NBC Digital NewsGuild (representing ~300 digital staff) has condemned the process as potentially unlawful, arguing that layoffs during contract negotiations violate federal labor laws requiring bargaining. They've filed unfair labor practice charges over prior cuts and staged protests, including projecting critical messages onto 30 Rock in November 2024.