четверг, 13 сентября 2012 г.

More Job Cuts Likely at Atlanta-Based Turner Broadcasting.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News) - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jan. 19--ATLANTA--Cutbacks at Turner Broadcasting System may not be limited to its CNN unit.

Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting is expected to announce more job cuts by the end of the month in addition to those announced Wednesday at the cable news operation.

But the additional cuts, which are likely to swipe across many of Turner Broadcasting's other units, would involve substantially fewer people than the 400 who will lose their jobs at the CNN News Group.

Not including its CNN work force, Turner Broadcasting has about 5,600 employees worldwide. About 3,200 are in metro Atlanta, where at least some of the job cuts are expected.

'We cannot comment on speculation,' Turner Broadcasting spokeswoman Ronnie Gunnerson said.

In addition to CNN, Turner Broadcasting's holdings include a number of cable TV networks and Web sites, such as TNT, TBS Superstation, the Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, Turner South and Boomerang. It also has three Atlanta sports teams, the Braves, Thrashers and Hawks.

Last week, Turner Broadcasting's parent, Time Warner, merged with America Online. AOL Time Warner executives have scheduled a meeting with analysts Jan. 31, and the company's hope is to complete some cutback announcements before then.

Analysts have long speculated the merger would lead to cutbacks at some Time Warner holdings. AOL Time Warner has promised Wall Street strong financial performance, though the national advertising market has softened. The company also has promised to take advantage of synergies among its businesses.

'I think you will be seeing cost reviews across the company,' said Tom Wolzien, an analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. 'I think this is typical of a media company trying to make sure its costs and revenues are in alignment.'

Several media companies have announced layoffs and hiring freezes related to the advertising slowdown and difficulties at media Web sites.

AOL Time Warner Chief Executive Gerald Levin has said some cutbacks could occur in areas related to Time Warner's digital activities.

If there are to be job cuts, AOL Time Warner executives don't expect them to drag out for months. They also have been careful to describe their moves not as cost cutting but as taking advantage of efficiencies stemming from the merger.

Wolzien said the moves are just plain cost cutting if the jobs being eliminated don't exist elsewhere in the company.

CNN's layoff announcement was accompanied by a sweeping reorganization of the news giant, squeezing together Internet and TV news operations and requiring the staff to work for more than one network at a time. Employees will find out next week if their jobs are among those being cut.

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