Zee Entertainment has initiated yet another round of job cuts, asking close to 200 employees — largely consultants and project-linked staff — to leave as the company pushes through a tougher restructuring phase after the collapse of its long-planned merger with Sony.
The latest exits, according to people aware of the development, are part of a wider attempt to simplify functions, shrink operating costs and shift towards a leaner, digitally focused structure. Several support teams and non-critical roles have been impacted as the broadcaster reassesses business priorities amid prolonged financial stress.
The company has been under pressure since the Sony deal fell apart, a setback that was followed by a steep drop in quarterly profits and softer advertising demand. Insiders say Zee’s leadership has been working on an “omnichannel realignment”, a plan that combines content, digital, and distribution workflows while reducing duplicate layers created over the past few years.
While Zee had already begun workforce rationalisation earlier, the fresh cuts underline the severity of the operational reset. For affected employees — many engaged on fixed-term or consulting arrangements — the retrenchment adds to the uncertainty looming over an already challenged media employment landscape.
Industry observers expect the broadcaster to keep tightening its structure through the year, as it attempts to stabilise earnings and rebuild strategic clarity after the failed merger.
Source – https://www.bwpeople.in/article/zee-cuts-another-200-jobs-as-post-merger-strain-deepens-582034