Layoffs Hit E!, Esquire After NBCUni Cable Shakeup (Exclusive)
Executive reorganization has led to cuts in sales, marketing, an insider tells TheWrap
Matt Donnelly | February 9, 2016 @ 3:33 PM
Last Updated: February 9, 2016 @ 4:27 PM
Updated at 3:48 p.m.: An E! spokesperson confirmed that five employees were laid off Tuesday.
Previously…
As many as 10 employees were laid off today at NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, affecting departments at E! and Esquire, an individual familiar with the cuts told TheWrap.
Staffers from the unit that handles marketing and sales for both cable channels were given pink slips, according to the insider. The changes came on the heels of an executive shakeup also announced Tuesday by division chairman Bonnie Hammer.
In a memo to staff announcing an executive shuffle, Hammer named Sandra Schron, former marketing VP at USA Networks, as SVP of Marketing Production across cable entertainment. The realignment, Hammer said, will see existing marketing staff relocate to the team of NBCUniversal ad sales chairman Linda Yaccarino.
Hammer charged USA president Chris McCumber with oversight of Syfy and smaller networks Chiller and Cloo. Syfy president Dave Howe was promoted to president of strategy and growth for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.
The executive made a similar move when naming Frances Berwick head of Bravo, Oxygen, E! and Esquire in 2014.
13 of E! Hits and Misses (Photos)
HIT: "Fashion Police" has been one of the network's most consistent hits, but the show's future is now uncertain due to the death of founder and marquee co-host Joan Rivers on Sept. 4
NBC
HIT and MISS: "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" was created well before Suzanne Kolb took the reins at E! and the reality show continued its run after nine seasons, despite declining ratings.
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MISS: "The Wanted Life," starring Britain's other boy band The Wanted, ran for 7 episodes in 2013.
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MISS: "Scouted" was a reality show about the modeling industry that premiered a few months after Kolb took over in 2011 and was never picked up for a second season.
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HIT and MISS: "Khloe & Lamar" is a "KUWtK" spin-off based around Khloe Kardashian and her basketball-playing husband Lamar Odom. It ran for two seasons and finished shortly before the couple divorced.
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MISS: "Kendra," starring Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson ran for 4 seasons. It began well before Kolb started, but took a ratings hit after she took over.
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MISS: E! cancelled Ross Mathews' late night show "Hello Ross" after only 26 episodes over two short seasons
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MISS: "Ice Loves Coco," starring rapper Ice T and his wife Coco Austin, ended in 2012 after an awful season of ratings.
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MISS: "Chasing The Saturdays" followed a girl band E! hoped would be this generation's answer to the Spice Girls, but not very many people tuned in.
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HIT and MISS: "Total Divas" kicked off its third season in early Sept., but recent ratings have been less than stellar.
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MISS: "Chelsea Lately" ran for 7 seasons, but Chelsea Handler and E! had a messy split in Aug. 2014.
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MISS: "Mrs. Eastwood and Company," based around actor Clint Eastwood's wife and family, aired for only 10 episodes in 2012.
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MISS: E! rebranded itself with the tagline "Pop of Culture" in 2012 to mixed results.
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Suzanne Kolb confirmed her departure from E! in a staff email Tuesday after serving as network president since 2011. TheWrap takes a look back at some programming wins and losses
HIT: "Fashion Police" has been one of the network's most consistent hits, but the show's future is now uncertain due to the death of founder and marquee co-host Joan Rivers on Sept. 4
