Gemstar Lays Off 38; Hires SVP High

Gemstar-TV Guide International confirmed Friday that 38 employees lost their jobs earlier this week in cost-cutting moves at TV Guide magazine and at the data-solutions group that supplies listing data.

Spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said 24 of the layoffs were in various departments of the magazine and the other 14 were at the data group in Radnor, Pa.

Separately, the company confirmed that John High was hired as senior vice president of affiliate sales, reporting to executive VP of distribution Tonia O’Connor in Radnor.

High, who had been at interactive-TV provider Visiware, is a former VP at HBO. He starts Monday.