NBC News Layoffs have officially begun, with the network eliminating roughly 150 positions—about 7% of its total workforce—as it braces for a sweeping corporate reorganization. The move comes just months before NBCUniversal finalizes a major spinoff that will separate NBC News from its cable siblings, including MSNBC and CNBC .
What’s Behind the NBC News Layoffs?
The layoffs are part of a broader strategic shift within NBCUniversal, which is preparing to split its cable portfolio from its news and entertainment divisions. This corporate divorce aims to streamline operations and better position each business unit for the future of media—especially as traditional TV viewership continues to decline in favor of digital and streaming platforms .
According to two insiders familiar with the matter, no on-air anchors are being let go. Instead, the cuts span nearly every department—from production and editorial to digital operations and support staff .
Who’s Affected—and Who’s Not?
While NBC News is taking the brunt of the reductions, the broader NBCUniversal News Group—which includes Telemundo and the company’s 42 local TV stations—is largely untouched. The layoffs represent only about 2% of the entire news group’s workforce, underscoring that the focus remains on the flagship national news division .
Employees impacted by the cuts are receiving:
- 60 days’ notice
- Severance packages
- Subsidized health benefits during the transition
Interestingly, NBCUniversal is simultaneously hiring for approximately 140 open roles across the news group. About a dozen of the eliminated positions are being restructured into new roles aligned with the company’s evolving digital-first strategy .
Digital Transformation Drives Restructuring
Like its competitors, NBC News is racing to adapt to a media landscape where audiences increasingly consume news via smartphones, podcasts, and subscription services. In response, the network has recently:
- Launched a new podcast, “Here’s the Scoop”
- Announced plans for a paid subscription news service later this year
- Appointed Tom Llamas as the new anchor of NBC Nightly News, replacing Lester Holt
These moves signal a clear pivot toward personalized, on-demand content—a shift that demands fewer traditional broadcast roles and more digital, data, and product-focused talent.
What’s Next for NBCUniversal?
The corporate spinoff isn’t just about cost-cutting—it’s about positioning. With Telemundo gearing up to broadcast the upcoming FIFA World Cup and NBC expanding its sports division ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, the company is betting big on live events and global audiences .
Separating NBC News from cable networks like MSNBC may also allow each brand to pursue distinct editorial and business strategies without internal conflicts—a growing concern in today’s polarized media environment.
Industry-Wide Trend
NBC isn’t alone. Major news organizations—including CNN, ABC, and Fox—have all implemented significant layoffs in 2024 and 2025 as ad revenues shrink and streaming competition intensifies. The trend reflects a painful but necessary recalibration across the entire broadcast journalism ecosystem.
