BuzzFeed and Verizon Media Group [Yahoo’s Owner] Lay Off Hundreds as Revenues Take Massive Hit
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Over at Verizon Media Group, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications will pink-slip 7% of its global workforce. Verizon Media Group, which until December was known as Oath, had more than 11,000 employees at the close of 2018. Approximately 800 employees are expected to be affected by the restructuring plan according to the Wall Street Journal.
Restructuring Will Enable Verizon Adapt to the Future
While announcing the layoffs, the CEO of Verizon Media Group, Guru Gowrappan, indicated that the decision was made with a view of making the subsidiary more competitive:
While every business unit has to manage their P&L, these decisions are being made to streamline resources and invest in opportunities that will help us grow.
Verizon Media Group largely consists of brands that Verizon Communications took over after acquiring Yahoo and AOL. Some of the well-known brands include news sites such as TechCrunch and HuffPost and social media platform Tumblr.
Despite investments in the media business running into billions of dollars, Verizon Media Group has struggled. In the most recent reported quarter revenues fell by 7% compared to the previous quarter to come in at $1.8 billion.
Expectations of Verizon Media Group Reduced
Going forward Verizon’s media arm noted there will be little to no revenue growth going forward. Verizon Media Group also does not expect to reach a revenue target of $10 billion by 2020.
Late last year Verizon Communications took a write-down amounting to $4.6 billion on its media subsidiary. A regulatory filing revealed that the accounting charge was made after the realization that the subsidiary was overvalued.
There was little change in the share price of Verizon Communications after the layoffs were announced.
BuzzFeed to Pink-Slip Yet Again
Over at BuzzFeed, around 220 employees will be laid off – about 15% of its workforce, according to Variety. Per BuzzFeed’s co-founder and CEO, Jonah Peretti, the restructuring will allow the media organization to thrive without relying on fundraising:
The restructuring we are undertaking will reduce our costs and improve our operating model so we can thrive and control our own destiny, without ever needing to raise funding again. These changes will allow us to be the clear winner in the market as the economics of digital media continue to improve.
The restructuring we are undertaking will reduce our costs and improve our operating model so we can thrive and control our own destiny, without ever needing to raise funding again. These changes will allow us to be the clear winner in the market as the economics of digital media continue to improve.