According to Deadline, NBC News announced a huge number of layoffs. One hundred and fifty staffers found out that they were out of a job. This happened as the network prepares to cut costs, as Comcast prepares to split into Versant. Versant is a separate company housing NBCUniversal’s cable offerings, including USA Network and its news divisions, which were formerly managed under NBC News.

The laid-off staffers were informed that NBC News is no longer gathering the news for two networks, MSNBC and CNBC. Instead, these two networks will be under the control of the cable network, Versant. Deadline also mentioned that other similar news networks have also been laying off their staff. 

An inside source told Deadline that the employees who were impacted will receive severance and outplacement services. The employees will be given a 60-day notice and benefit support. There are about 140 openings in the new company that the affected employees will be able to apply for. 

Deadline also mentioned that the NBC Digital News Guild, which represents some of the relieved staffers, has not received an official notice. Susan DeCarava, president of the News Guild of New York, issued a statement saying, “What’s clear: NBC Management is prioritizing corporate profits at the expense of our hard-working members, without whom there would be no NBC News.

According to Deadline, with the exception of operations in Washington, DC, as of October 6, MSNBC no longer relied on NBC News correspondents for its coverage. On October 20, MNSBC will be taking on the name MS NOW, which mxdwn reported earlier this year. The rebrand stands for My Source New Opinion World. Cesar Conde, Chairman of the NBCU News Group, released a memo stating that a new NBC News subscription service will be launched later this year. NBC News will expand its coverage to capture events such as the Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl.