Discovery Networks Norway to cut staff

Discovery Networks Norway is set to axe 35 jobs as part of a restructure aimed at redistributing resources to content and new services.

Employees were informed of the “extensive changes” at a town hall meeting yesterday.

There was no word on what posts would be affected, though Discovery Networks Norway CEO Harald Strømme said there would be “centralisation of jobs in some areas” and strengthening of “organisation and expertise in other areas where the growth potential and opportunities are great”.

In a statement issue to TBI, Stromme pointed to sports rights and digital distribution as “growth areas important for our business”, and said the proposed changes “allow us to accelerate these efforts”.

According to the company’s website, there are currently around 160 full-time staff at Discovery Networks Norway.

Stromme said the restructure was part of a “continuous effort” to set the company up for the future. “As part of this work we make extensive changes to the entire organisation in the coming weeks,” he added.

“Whilst we don’t make these decisions lightly, it is necessary to take action and adapt the way we work to keep pace with a fast moving media environment. History has taught us companies that embrace change determine their destiny.”

Discovery Networks Norway is part of Discovery Networks International, the global arm of US broadcast group Discovery Communications.

It was formed when Discovery acquired the SBS Broadcasting business in Scandinavia in 2012, and operates free-to-air channel TV Norge, plus local pay networks such as Fem, Max, VOX, TLC, Discovery Channel, Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Norge, and streaming service Dplay.

The Norwegian restructure comes soon after Stromme was named interim chief executive of Discovery Networks Sweden, after the long-serving Jonas Sjogren decided to step down.