AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT PARADIGM TALENT AGENCY

Stephen Levine October 12, 2020

Am I Next? Major problems at Paradigm Talent Agency.

Beverly Hills, California-based Paradigm Talent Agency, a full-service entertainment agency, has announced a reduction in force that will impact approximately 30% of its workforce, or approximately 180 employees.

Paradigm's Chairman and CEO Sam Gores noted, “With disappointment and sadness, today we have informed the temporarily laid off employees whom we have not been able to reinstate that they will be transitioned to permanent layoff. As you know, over the last six months, we have brought back as many of our temporarily laid off colleagues as we could; unfortunately, the profound effects of the coronavirus have continued to severely impact every aspect of our industry and our world for longer than we had even imagined six months ago. Consequently, we have had to examine every aspect of our business and make this difficult decision.”

“As these colleagues and friends begin their next chapters, we wish them only the best. As a company, we have enjoyed growth for several decades, so needless to say, this is a difficult day. Our values and our core are strong, and we will continue on a focused path, and we remain committed to improving.”

“I recognize that you and your former colleagues have carried a heavy burden this year, and I am grateful for all of your contributions. We all hope that someday soon, the live and filmed entertainment industry will safely and wholly return. As always, the company and I remain appreciative of your commitment and dedication.”

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT NBCUNIVERSAL (01/12/23)

Stephen Levine May 11, 2020

Am I Next? Big changes coming to NBCUniversal.

JANUARY 12, 2023 — 75 TARGETED BY NEW MANAGEMENT

The company has announced that it will be laying off about 75 employees across its NBC News and MSNBC properties. Both properties are being restructured to counter declining viewership as consumers cord-cut and transition to streaming services.

AUGUST 26, 2022 — NBC IS CONSIDERING REDUCING PRIME-TIME TV BY 1-HOUR TO SAVE MONEY

NBC is discussing returning the 10 p.m. prime-tv hour to local stations as a cost-cutting move as interest in broadcast TV viewership declines in favor of streaming options commencing with the fall 2023 season.

A company spokesperson noted, “We are always looking at strategies to ensure that our broadcast business remains as strong as possible. As a company, our advantage lies in our ability to provide audiences with the content they love across broadcast, cable, and streaming.”

NBC parent Comcast is giving priority to building its Peacock streaming service as traditional tv ad revenues decline.

OCTOBER 30, 2020 — LAYOFFS IMMINENT

The company has announced that it will continue its restructuring plans with two phased layoffs that will see up to 300 employees. Phase one is scheduled for the business operations unit in mid-November 2020 and phase two to follow in late December 2020 or early 2021.

MAY 11, 2020 — Original post…

Los Angeles, California-based NBCUniversal, an entertainment division of Comcast appears ready to restructure some of its operations with a goal of cutting costs and reducing headcounts.

According to NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell ...

On costs the question about whether we’re right-sized on costs given where the environment is headed, the answer is probably no, and we’re addressing that pretty aggressively. We’re trying to be thoughtful within our business though, and there’s obviously a couple of different kinds of businesses.

One business is there are businesses like the theme park business where the revenue has just shut off and we have to address our costs, but we’re going to come back at some point. There, we have cut a significant amount of our costs and can flex even further down if this goes longer and deeper than we see right now.

And then elsewhere in our business where we’re seeing both short-term and structural declines, I think what we’re trying to do is address our cost base in a way that comes out of this in a different way, that we look like a different company and we can shift our business as we adjust our cost base.

But we’re spending a lot of time on our cost base. And certainly, over the next weeks and months, we’ll make pretty significant adjustments there across our business.

NO LOVE AT SEAWORLD (09/15/20)

Stephen Levine October 24, 2017

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 — 1,896 FURLOUGHED EMPLOYEES ARE PERMANENTLY LAID OFF AT THREE LOCATIONS IN FLORIDA

The company has announced that 1,896 employees at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove who were originally furloughed have has their status converted to permanently laid off.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 — SAN ANTONIO, 242 LAYOFFS

In a Texas State filing, the company has disclosed that SeaWorld San Antonio has laid off 242 employees in response to declining attendance and revenues.

Acompany spokesperson noted, "The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on each of our lives, in ways both small and profound. The same is true for the travel, tourism, entertainment, and hospitality industries, and the operations of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc.

While we were able to bring thousands of furloughed Ambassadors back to work and hoped to bring back everyone, the current environment requires us to set up the company for long term success. SeaWorld has determined that it must transition certain park and corporate personnel from a furloughed status to a permanent layoff.

We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Ambassadors to our company’s shared mission, values, and goals. Over our 60-year history, our parks have inspired millions of guests to love, protect and care for our planet’s animals and their habitats. We are sorry to have to part ways with any team members in this difficult moment, but their abiding commitment to our guests, fellow Ambassadors and animals is recognized and made a lasting impact."

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 — FURLOUGHS CONVERTED TO PERMANENT LAYOFFS (SEE 9/15/20 POST)

In a filing with the Securities and Exchnge Commission, the company noted that an unspecified number of furloughs would be converted to permanent layoffs due to the unforseeable impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a company spokesperson, “We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Ambassadors to our company’s shared mission, values, and goals. Over our 60-year history, our parks have inspired millions of guests to love, protect and care for our planet’s animals and their habitats. We are sorry to have to part ways with any team members in this difficult moment, but their abiding commitment to our guests, fellow Ambassadors and animals is recognized and made a lasting impact.”

SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 — 100 CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES LAID OFF

The company has announced the layoff of 100 employees at its Orlando, Florida call center. Call center operations are being outsourced to a third-party business process outsourcer.

According to a company spokesperson, “SeaWorld undertook a careful review of our operations and made a business decision to restructure our call center operations. This move will allow us to better and more efficiently scale our call center to meet customer demand, especially during peak months."

Previous post…

Once again we see the power of a relatively small group of animal and environmental activists and a well-coordinated media campaign as Sea World announces that they will lay off 350 employees.

Much of SeaWorld’s woes can be attributed to the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which detailed the purported abuse of “killer whales” (orcas) at SeaWorld. Without its iconic star “Shamu” attraction, attendance plummeted. This movie and all of the surrounding hype greatly upset children and their virtue signaling parents who refused to visit the attraction.

This layoff was preceded by another 320 jobs last December (2015) and 300 jobs the previous year (2014). Declining attendance, revenue, and profits – and the rising value of the company’s real estate may mean that there is more money in high-rise condos than an amusement venue.

No matter how much fun amusement attractions seem, the idea of a family of four paying a little over $3,0200 for a four-day vacation including hotel but exclusive of travel seems excessive. Especially with an increasing degree of 3-D and immersive virtual reality devices that can replicate everything but the smell, the crowds, and the fatigue, hassle, and long lines.