The fledgling news network Al Jazeera America announced on Friday that it would be laying off dozens of employees.
The cable news network, which launched nearly eight months ago, is reducing its staff from 850 to closer to 800 as it goes through a restructuring phase, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Executive vp corporate communications Dawn Bridges said, "The majority of people affected were freelancers and many of the staff either came from the sports group or from The Stream."
The network hasn't offered much sports content, but a planned show was scrapped. The Stream, which is a show meant to engage with viewers through social media, has been reduced from nearly daily airings to now only on Mondays.
Deadline reports the layoffs were planned by the network as it continues to settle into place, with the initial staff of 850 now not needed to continue running the network as Al Jazeera America makes adjustments.
In a memo to staff, President Kate O'Brian wrote, "We have reached what I will call our steady-state level of operations and we are bringing our staffing levels into alignment with our long-range plan."
Al Jazeera America hasn't done all that well since its August launch in ratings. On Friday, March 21, the network had 339,000 unique visitors, which isn't much but is a boost above the normal of 261,000 for a Friday.