NBC News said it will lay off about 150 employees – roughly 7% of its U.S. news staff. The cuts hit the flagship 30 Rockefeller Plaza newsroom as part of a major cost-cutting plan.
Industry experts note this move highlights deep challenges for traditional TV news, as falling viewership and revenue force legacy networks to downsize.
Why NBC Cites Ratings and Spinoff
Executives point to a “tough business climate” as the reason for the cuts. NBC News has suffered declining TV ratings and ad revenue, and digital growth isn’t yet making up for it.
Meanwhile, Comcast is spinning off MSNBC and CNBC into a new company (Versant). NBC says some jobs supporting those cable channels are no longer needed. The goal is to refocus on digital and streaming platforms.
Employees Face Uncertainty
Termination notices went out to roughly 150 staffers on Oct. 15. The reductions span broadcast, digital, and Telemundo teams, especially at NBC’s Manhattan HQ.
Many employees now report high anxiety. One insider said staffers are “dreading what’s to come”, reflecting fear about jobs and pay in an unstable newsroom environment.
Corporate Response: Retraining and Digital
NBC News says it will reallocate talent internally. Management invited departing employees to apply for about 140 open positions across the network. Simultaneously, NBC is accelerating digital investments.
NBCU News chief Cesar Conde has announced a subscription streaming service planned for late 2025, and an expansion of sports coverage, signaling a pivot away from traditional broadcasts.
Cable News Spin-off Details
Comcast’s big reveal: MSNBC and CNBC will split off into “Versant,” an independent media company by year-end. Notably, the MSNBC cable channel will shed the NBC logo and relaunch as “MS NOW”.
This means NBC News will increasingly focus on its streaming channel (NBC News Now) and local outlets, rather than legacy cable. The move marks a dramatic shift in NBC’s news strategy.
Global Newsrooms on Alert
NBC News Group includes international bureaus, so the impact may reach beyond the U.S. Specific overseas cuts aren’t public yet, but industry analysts warn global coverage could be realigned.
NBC News Group even encompasses Telemundo and local affiliates, implying resources may be shifted worldwide. Any cuts abroad could change how NBC covers international events in the coming years.
Inside 30 Rock: Newsroom Tension
Within 30 Rock, employees describe a climate of fear and uncertainty. Journalists and producers report sleepless nights worrying about bills and health benefits. One insider noted many are “dreading what’s to come”.
The emotional toll is tangible: staff are struggling with stress and anger even before knowing who’s cut, underscoring the human cost of the layoffs.
Union Critique: Profits vs. People
The NewsGuild of New York (media workers’ union) blasted the cuts. Union President Susan DeCarava said NBC is shortchanging employees: “Instead of restructuring at the top, corporate profits are being maximized at the expense of our hard-working members”.
The union argues management should absorb more pain to protect frontline staff. Labor advocates warn this conflict could lead to calls for new media labor protections or policy interventions.
Broader Industry Layoffs
NBC isn’t alone. Other networks are downsizing amid mergers and slumping ad sales. Paramount’s CBS News may cut up to 10% of its staff under new leadership. CNN also trimmed around 6% of its workforce earlier this year.
In spring 2025, Disney cut ~6% of ABC News jobs. These cuts reflect a systemic shift: legacy broadcasters are all shrinking to adjust to cord-cutting and digital disruption.
Advertisers Shift to Digital
Declining TV audiences are forcing a reallocation of advertising budgets. Industry surveys show linear TV ad spending is shrinking while streaming (CTV/OTT) investments grow. For example, a recent report found 56% of marketers plan to increase spending on connected-TV ads in 2025.
Major retailers and brands are already moving marketing dollars into social video and streaming, meaning NBC’s traditional ad base will likely continue eroding as advertisers chase younger viewers online.
Local Economic Effects
The layoffs will ripple through Midtown Manhattan. Hundreds of well-paid media professionals used to spend lunch money and coffee in nearby cafés and delis. Economic research shows each high-wage job supports roughly 2.6 local service jobs (in restaurants, shops, taxis, etc.).
Cutting ~150 NBC staffers could therefore dent daily foot traffic at 30 Rock-area businesses. This local slowdown adds to the broader economic impact of the downsizing.
Production and Support Services
Newsroom cuts often affect outside vendors. NBC News says it is “shifting resources” into other areas (notably sports). It currently has ~140 open jobs in new areas, including a bigger NBA and Olympics focus under Conde.
Meanwhile, freelance crews and production firms that handled NBC News and MSNBC segments may see fewer gigs. The drop in network work could mean less work for video editors, camera teams, and graphic designers who supplied both NBC and now-divorced cable channels.
Impact on International Coverage
Global audiences may feel the changes. NBC historically relied on its international bureaus and local affiliate partners for overseas reporting. In recent years, NBC has leaned on its 200+ local affiliates to co-cover big stories.
Going forward, those alliances might extend abroad: foreign bureaus may rely more on partner outlets or wire services. Observers say this could alter the depth and speed of NBC’s global news coverage.
Staff Health and Well-Being
Getting laid off can have serious health and lifestyle effects. Research shows that losing a job is strongly linked to spikes in anxiety and depression.
Sudden unemployment also means losing health insurance and a daily routine. Affected journalists will likely face financial strain as expenses pile up. Psychological support and extended benefit packages could be crucial; companies are urged to help staff cope with stress and transitions.
Cultural Debate: Journalism’s Role
These cuts have reignited debate about the cultural value of network news. Critics worry that shrinking legacy newsrooms will weaken investigative reporting and representation. Some experts say the media’s future is in new hands: as one observer put it, “Tomorrow’s journalism belongs to those who’ve been excluded, harmed, and failed by the media”.
In other words, community-focused and digital-first outlets may rise to fill gaps, challenging traditional outlets to better serve diverse audiences.
Winners and Losers in Media
The reshuffling creates clear winners and losers. Digital-native news and streaming platforms stand to benefit as NBC retreats. A Reuters report confirms consumers are turning away from TV and print: “Traditional news sources are struggling to connect with the public, with declining engagement, low trust and stagnating subscriptions”.
That suggests online and social media outlets (news websites, podcasts, video creators) could gain audience share. Legacy networks and veteran staffers, by contrast, are facing the brunt of this power shift.
Investors React: Versant Spinoff Strategy
Financial markets are watching closely. When Comcast first announced the Versant spinoff plan, its stock jumped nearly 3%, as investors cheered the idea of separating out slower-growth cable assets.
CEO Mike Cavanagh explained that making a “well-capitalized” new cable-network company could seize new opportunities. Analysts say the success of this move is uncertain: Wall Street will see if it steadies Comcast’s long-term outlook or introduces volatility as TV ratings fade.
Advice for News Consumers
For viewers, the shake-up is a reminder to diversify news sources. Media surveys show more Americans now rely on social platforms and streaming for news. For example, 34% of U.S. adults in 2025 say social media is their main news source, up sharply from a decade ago.
Experts advise people to use a mix of outlets – traditional networks, cable, online subscriptions, and podcasts – and to verify information. Subscribing to trusted news services or following respected journalists can help mitigate the disruption.
What’s Next for NBC News
Looking ahead, NBC News faces more changes. The Versant spinoff (MSNBC/CNBC) is slated by year-end, meaning NBC News and its network siblings will operate separately. NBC is doubling down on digital bets: launching that subscription app, expanding sports, and selling a message of “rigorous, fact-based news”.
But these strategies are untested at scale. Industry observers expect continued turbulence; only time will tell if NBC’s new path can replace lost revenue and retain viewers.
Legacy Media in Transition
Ultimately, the NBC layoffs reflect a media industry in flux. As the Reuters Institute notes, consumers worldwide are moving on: traditional TV and print are waning, while social and video are rising.
The NBC story is not just about one network – it’s symptomatic of how news is changing from boardroom to browser. As companies like NBC adapt to streaming and digital trends, the reverberations will influence what news looks like for audiences globally.