Layoffs Cut ‘Half A Dozen’ Jobs At WLS
Even Chicago’s No. 1 television station isn’t immune from industrywide pressures to cut costs. Sources say ABC O&O WLS has eliminated “about half a dozen” jobs as part of a restructuring and reallocation of resources throughout Disney/ABC Television Group. No full-time anchors or reporters were affected by the layoffs, which were said to involve several departments.
Disney | ABC Television Group has begun laying off employees, part of a long-anticipated restructuring and reallocation of resources at the Walt Disney Co.’s non-sports broadcast and cable television arm. A source says that the company began notifying affected employees Thursday morning. The volume of employees impacted is said to be significantly lower than the 10% workforce cut that had been speculated when news broke of the layoff plan six weeks ago.
Sonia Coleman, former Walt Disney Co. VP of corporate human resources, has been promoted to SVP of human resources for the Disney|ABC Television Group. She succeeds Steve Milovich, who, after […]
Elizabeth Sloan is elevated to SVP, consumer insights for ABC Entertainment, ABC Studios and ABC News, while Jane Gould joins as SVP, consumer insights for Disney Channels Worldwide and Freeform.
Renu Thomas will report to Ben Sherwood and will oversee the development and implementation of operational and business-to-business IT strategies and solutions that support the group and its various business units.
Exclusives
Disney/ABC Television Group is expanding its consumer and digital media areas with the hires of Cindy Davis and John Frelinghuysen in newly created roles. Davis joins as EVP, consumer experience and Frelinghuysen as EVP, digital media, strategy and business development.
In late May, about 35 technology employees at Disney/ABC Television in New York and Burbank, Calif., were told they would all be laid off, and that during their final weeks they would have to train immigrants brought in by an outsourcing company to do their jobs. The training began, but after a few days it was suspended with no explanation. In New York, the immigrants suddenly stopped coming to the offices. Then on June 11, managers summoned the employees with different news: Their layoffs had been canceled.
To make the transition, Disney/ABC Television Group will use Imagine Communications’ VersioCloud, IP-enabled master control and playout software, replacing traditional broadcast master control that relies on various discrete pieces of technology, such as graphics and branding systems and playout servers. With this new cloud model, the network’s affiliates will continue to have the ability to do local inserts of their own news and other programming, commercials and promos.
Longtime ABC Newser Eric Avram has been named to the new role of VP for talent, booking and ABC News Specialized Units within the Disney/ABC TV Group. A 20-year ABC veteran, Avram is currently the senior executive producer of division-wide interviews, overseeing all ABC News booking teams as well as the investigative, medical, business and law and justice teams.
Ben Sherwood has the kind of resume that could make even a high achiever jealous. A Harvard graduate and a Rhodes scholar, Sherwood has been a reporter, producer, author and executive. On Monday, Sherwood added the title chairman to his curriculum vitae when Walt Disney Co. elevated him from president of ABC News to co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and president of the Disney/ABC Television Group.
ABC Cat’s Out Of The Bag, But Is It For Real?
Disney is supposedly considering selling its O&Os. It’s a rumor that has been making the rounds for a few weeks. The conventional broadcasting wisdom says that the network is a marginal business and the stations are the business of high margin. In other words, if you had to sell something, you would sell the network. But the conventional wisdom may be out of date.
He adds responsibility for all research activities related to the ABC Television Network, ABC Studios, ABC Family and Disney/ABC Domestic Television.
The restructure consolidates financial leadership for the entertainment portfolio under Peter Seymour in a newly created position.
Early results of the research into reach, duration, frequency and page views of consumers’ iPad apps and Web usage will be presented at today’s ARF re:Think Conference.
Chris Thomes will be responsible for general management and oversight of branded digital programming.
Communications executive Mirian Arias has been named the new vice president, daytime communications, Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG). She will report to Kevin Brockman, executive vice president, global communications DATG. Working […]
