NBC News eliminated approximately 150 employees on Wednesday, October 15, representing seven percent of the network’s workforce as it prepares to operate independently from cable siblings MSNBC and CNBC ahead of Comcast’s planned spinoff.
The layoffs affect roughly 2,000 NBC News staff members and coincide with NBCUniversal’s restructuring to spin off several cable networks into a new publicly traded company called Versant. Company documents and local filings suggest the Versant separation could extend into early 2026, with offices already opening in Stamford, Connecticut, to support the transition.
Affected employees received 60 days’ notice and will receive severance packages along with subsidized benefits, according to sources familiar with the matter. The cuts specifically targeted teams dedicated to diversity-focused coverage, including NBC BLK, NBC Latino, NBC Asian America, and NBC OUT, which covered Black, Latino, Asian American, and LGBTQ+ communities, respectively.
NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde addressed staff in an internal memo, stating the eliminations were necessary decisions that should not reflect on departing colleagues’ contributions. Conde emphasized that “today is a hard day” while acknowledging the valuable work of those leaving.
No anchors were affected by the October 15 layoffs. NBC News indicated it currently has 140 open positions across the organization and is encouraging laid-off workers to apply for these roles. Approximately 12 eliminated positions are being repurposed into new roles within the news group.
The workforce reduction stems from operational changes necessitated by the upcoming spinoff. NBC News attributed the cuts to challenging business conditions and the need to eliminate roles that previously supported MSNBC and CNBC operations. Company officials explained that certain positions providing shared services would no longer be required once the cable networks operate under separate management.
This marks the second round of cuts at NBC News in 2025. The network previously eliminated approximately 40 positions in January, representing two to three percent of its workforce, while simultaneously hiring for digital roles.
The separation will end nearly three decades of shared resources between NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC. The networks have historically collaborated on newsgathering, correspondent assignments, and production support, though MSNBC’s evolution toward opinion programming has sometimes complicated its relationship with NBC News’ straight-news positioning.
MSNBC began operating independently from NBC News on October 6, initially for coverage outside Washington, D.C. Starting October 20, MSNBC will no longer rely on NBC News correspondents or crews for Washington-based coverage either. The network will rebrand as MS NOW, standing for “My Source for News, Opinion and the World,” and will drop the NBC peacock logo from its branding.
Earlier cuts in September affected NBC’s graphics department, which had historically supported both NBC News and MSNBC. Fewer than a dozen full-time staffers and several freelancers were eliminated as the shared graphics team was reorganized, with some employees shifting to Versant and others remaining with NBC News.
The NewsGuild of New York criticized the layoffs through President Susan DeCarava, who indicated that NBC management prioritizes corporate profits over hardworking union members who are essential to NBC News operations.
NBC News plans to launch a new subscription-based streaming service later in 2025, featuring select news coverage and premium content. The network is also expanding sports coverage and preparing a marketing campaign to reinforce its identity as a rigorous, fact-based news source.
Under the Versant spinoff, Comcast will retain NBC News, the Peacock streaming service, Universal Studios, theme parks, and Bravo. The new company will include MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, SYFY, E!, Golf Channel, and Oxygen, along with digital properties such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine.
Comcast has appointed a board of directors for Versant, with Mark Lazarus serving as chief executive officer and David Novak as chairman, alongside directors including Rebecca Campbell, Michael Conway, David Eun, and Creighton Condon.
Versant CEO Mark Lazarus emphasized the company will focus on individual brand identities rather than corporate naming, with the holding company name primarily used for business-to-business purposes. Assets under the new entity generated approximately seven billion dollars in revenue over the past year.
The restructuring reflects broader industry challenges as traditional cable television faces declining viewership and advertising revenue pressures from streaming platforms and digital competitors. NBC News has strengthened collaboration with its network of over 200 local affiliates since 2023 to maintain audience reach amid changing media consumption patterns.
