The New York Times Co. is closing down its TV-production unit by the end of this year so it can devote more resources to Discovery Times Channel, its joint venture with Discovery Communications Inc.
The shuttering of New York Times Television -- which has offices in the West Village in Manhattan -- will result in about 24 employees losing their jobs, according to Times spokesman Toby Usnik.
Another half-dozen of the unit’s employees will stay on as liaisons between The New York Times and the cable network, helping to coordinate both sides’ efforts “to make sure Times-branded journalism is translated into television.” Journalists from the newspaper will continue to work on shows for, and appear on, Discovery Times.
“We’re focusing our energies and our efforts more on building that channel,” Usnik said, explaining the closing of the TV-production operation. “We’re still very much committed to television, and particularly our Discovery Times Channel.”
The TV-production unit generated about $15 million per year and also produced non-Times-branded shows for networks such as A&E Network, Showtime and PBS.
