NBCU’s 11th hour decision to have Esquire Network take over the Style Network rather than G4 has created uncertainty for staffers at both cable networks.
An individual with knowledge of the network’s plans tells the TheWrap that there would be some job loss at Style — it’s just unclear as to how much at this point.
“The network is just starting to go through the process,” the individual said.
Also read: Esquire Network Will Now Take Over Style, Not G4
“For the Style folks, the hope and the goal is to try to find positions within Bonnie’s [Hammer, NBCU Cable Entertainment Group chairman] organization, or within NBCU,” the insider told TheWrap.
Style employs roughly 100 people.
The network’s senior executives were just learning about the shake-up Monday, but some mid-level employees have already been “encouraged to look at other opportunities.”
As previously reported, some G4 employees had already lost their positions in advance of Esquire’s expected takeover.
One such former G4 employee, who spoke to TheWrap on condition of anonymity, had harsh words about the parent company’s decisions.
“G4 had a very clear identity that no one at Comcast or NBCU ever fostered, and I think anyone on the street could tell you there was much more overlap between the audience of Style and Esquire than there would ever be between that of G4 and Esquire,” the former employee said.
“Overall, the move to combine Style and Esquire makes sense,” the former employee added. “But axing all original programming on G4 then letting it just sit there since December (and now for the foreseeable future) absolutely does not.”
Concluded the former employee, who had worked at the company for several years: “NBCU is not good at handling brand identities, unless it’s diluting or destroying them.”
Sara Morrison contributed to this report.