MLBAM Lays Off 20; Savings Will Help Offset Price Reductions On Subscriptions
This story was written by Staci D. Kramer.
paidContent has learned that Major League Baseball Advanced Media laid off 20 of its 400-plus staff today, roughly 3-4 percent, with original programming taking the biggest hit. At the same time, MLBAM head Bob Bowman told me the digital arm of Major League Baseball will reduce its prices for 2009. "We have a divided loyalty to our fans and to our employees ... We need to do our level best for our fans and for the coming year, we have to lower our prices. To balance against that, if we're going to lower price and revenue, we're going to have to lower costs." He expects prices to drop at least 20 percent but said the final numbers had yet to be decided.
Instead, Bowman said MLBAM will shift its priorities to what it does best and the fans' number-one choicelive game coverage, not early-morning live programming. The live game day starts around 1 p.m.: "The focus will be on those 12 hours."
More to come
By Staci D. Kramer