Oxygen lays off 60 as NBC Universal takes over

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - More than 60 Oxygen staffers have been laid off following NBC Universal's $875 million acquisition of the women's cable network last month.

The pink-slipped staffers comprise about 25 percent of Oxygen's roughly 260 employees. The cuts affected employees at all levels across all departments.

Employees were notified of the layoffs Monday during a series of meetings held by NBC Universal officials in Oxygen's offices in New York, Dallas and Los Angeles.

"While these decisions are never easy, they have been made after a great deal of thought and careful consideration about what is best for the business," said Jean-Briac Perrette, the president of NBC Universal Digital Distribution.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter