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I'm told about 40 mostly producers and writers among the 200 in-house producing staff at TV Guide Network got pink slipped by Lionsgate yesterday. And another 35 or so freelancers in the studio/post/crew/operations group were also let go or had their hours cut back drastically. Yet zero employees on the executive floor were axed. 
"The managers say it wasn't because of the economy or because the channel is losing money. It's actually making money. It's apparently a plan designed to make way for (or make money available for) acquisitions in the new 'Lionsgate Era'," an insider points out to me. "And what is the first big 'genius' acquisition approved by Lionsgate to 'relaunch' the network? The syndicated version of Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd. Which has already run in syndication. Several times. And we hear they bought 4 theatrical movies to run -- 3 from Lionsgate's library, of course -- and they are all big box office stinkers. And the movies are gonna run above the TV Guide listings 'scroll' because that's how you want to watch a movie, on half the screen. That's worth 70-80 people's jobs?"
Massive Lay-Offs At TV Guide Network
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The scroll has already been announced as being cut almost from the moment Lionsgate came in, probably by September, which is why many cable systems are quickly jettisoning it either off their system or in the obscurity of digital cable next to the 18 infomercial channels.
I’ve been reading your blog for years now, so I figure it was only a matter of time before I read an article about me. Yes I got the pink slip, yesterday, so that more tired content could hit the airwaves. I hope to fail my way to the Top one day too!
I wouldn’t cry for The TV Guide Network. It is going to be off the air within the next few months anyway. All anybody is doing with this channel is using it to see what is on and that anybody is usually Grandma or Idol fans.
I work at an entertainment company in nyc that’s just laid off another 50 employees after they put 100 or so off at the start of the year. Looking around and seeing how the company is poised to take over a new space and started a new show (with three dozen new employees) that is, by the way, not doing so great and oh yeah, the budget projections are (at least in our department) ahead, one wonders: why are people being let go? I think it’s for more reasons like the one in this story.. the company has a project and employees are expendable and in a recession, it’s easier to get rid of people without shareholders holding executives accountable.
I thought that the Tv Guide channel had shut down cause my Time Warner cable service no longer carries it.
Lions Gate needs to save money for War 2 starring jason Statham and Dane Cook. Dane Cook plays an unfunny comedian who has convinced the heads of a mini major studio that he is superstar when my cousin (Pablo who is a manger at Applebee’s in Sacramento) can draw more people to the cinema than Dane Cook.
Totally worth the jobs. I think the new regime at TVG are planning to hire people that actually KNOW how to write and produce TV. They’re just cleaning out the people who are miserable cheesy E! Entertainment rejects or Matt Singerman flunkies.
Nikki – just want to say, is there any story in Hwood you DON’T break?!!! This story JUST got posted on LA Times.com Company Town….you are the true inside journalist. kudos to you
Lionsgate doesn’t have a clue. They need to look at the top to see why this network was run into the ground. How Matt Singerman still has a job is the real question. Keep the bosses who make the decisions and get rid of the people who have to carry it out at 1/5th the salary makes a lot of sense.
They’re dying to spend some money — TVG pushed Spike to a crazy-high 600k+/episode for off-HBO runs of “Entourage” and they’re getting themselves in the conversation on every expensive off-net sitcom out there.
Dumb way to start a network.
Totally agree. Singerman has got to go! What a looser!! Along with the EPs and SPs over there who obviously don’t know how to run a show. Buh Bye!!! Hopefully Lionsgate brings in some talent and new energy.
Honest to god…how is that so many chiefs continue to collect their fat, unearned paychecks, while the lowly indians get whacked time & time again. The names that sorely need to go…SINGERMAN, O’HARA, WOODWARD. It’s been the blind leading the blind there for so long. Keep soaking up those 0.2 ratings…if that.
Yes! Woodward needs to go too. As mentioned above…”miserable cheesy E! Entertainment reject”
O’hara and Singerman–Dumb and Dumber…somebody please give them the ax!
I feel bad for everyone who were let go. Singerman is the worst! That guy only hires people from his FOX frat, and if they’re blonde that’s a plus. O’hara is his enabler cause he doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. If that guy Adler is still there, he just as a made up title. Carey and Woodward are all part of the E! lay offs over five years ago. They didn’t know about entertainment television then and they don’t know it now. If you actually tell them that they don’t know what they’re doing, they put you on the list to be fired. If you’re smart, talented, and actually know how to produce television; that entire group of piss poor VP’s, SP’s, President don’t want you to work there. And if you do, you will be fired! Good Luck Lionsgate, a word of advice fire the executives they are the weakest link and have been for a longtime!
Yeah baby! Not just Adler. How about Giordano…another Singerman ass kisser. These people took big titles for low pay 5 years ago because they suck so bad they couldn’t get a job anywhere else. Wise up Lionsgate! Look at the shitty product these people have been delivering for the past few years. Speaking of piss poor SPs….will somebody please explain production to Rick Saloomy.
I agree, the talented workers never got a chance to shine there. In all his years Singerman never came up with a hit show but plenty of his buddies got paid to do nothing.
Lisa Germani is the one who should get canned. I mean really – she shows up late everyday if she even bothers to come in, gets extravagant trips approved by her superiors and knows just about zero about television. As others mentioned above – and E! reject. Plus she is so incredible rude and condescending. Why does Singerman keep her there….hmm.
It’s obvious Singerman can’t run the network. I think he might actually know this so he surrounds himself with dummies who keep his little secret. These are people with absolutely no exec. skills, creative skills or leadership skills. The proof is in the failed programming, messy overblown budgets and low morale. TVG is famous in this town for being the most miserable, unprofessional place to work.
Germani does nothing all day except for either get more of a fake spray tan…then come in late, and spends all day talking about which purse or pair of jeans the dumb chick bought over the weekend with her over inflated salary. She does NOTHING, is NOTHING and has pissed off a lot of people. NOT a nice person…but perhaps she kisses Singerman’s ass so that’s why she is still there, sitting behind a desk and shopping online instead of working. Pft…
LISTEN! A COMPANY IS AN ARTISTIC AND CREATIVE ATTEMPT TO MAKE MONEY. EVERYONE IS OUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE BOTTOM LINE — $$$$$.
TO ATTACK PEOPLE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL IS BITTER AND DISGUSTING.
WE HAVE ALL CHOOSEN TELEVISION, ONE OF THE ROUGHEST INDUSTRIES IN THE BUSINESS. BUT IT’S NOT BRAIN SURGERY. SO PICK UP, DUST YOURSELF OFF AND GET JOB HUNTING…
…OR MOVE BACK TO THE MIDWEST AND LIVE IN YOUR MOMMY AND DADDY’S BASEMENT.
With love…
~Does it matter who I am?!
These people are self serving knuckleheads! It’s been a tough few days at TVG. People have lost their jobs during a very trying time and what’s Paul Adler doing? Facebooking about his haircut. DUDE! How old are you? What do you do every morning before you go to work? Click your ruby slippers together and chant “there’s no place like TV Guide…there’s no place like TV guide”
A company is NOT meant to be an artistic and creative attempt to earn money you a-hole! It’s not the ballet.
This is a major media corporation and this is hollywood! There are too many talented people out there who can deliver. Name the names people and then forward this blog to Lionsgate. Does it matter who I am is in fear of his job! “Television is one of the roughest industries in the business” WHAT??????
Man…you do not know how to write!
“roughest industries in the business” That’s a good one!
Now we know why you’re NOT a brain surgeon.
A lot of great crew & staffers, along with Fuglesang and Strasser & Lisa Joyner, were slumming at this place. Fuglesang got in so many brilliant digs on the air today it was priceless.
“Bitter and disgusting” doesn’t necessarily mean “inaccurate.”
These rants are incredibly asinine and immature. They may be intended to make those who are laid off feel a little bit better…It’s not working.
I AM one of the ‘ZERO’ people on the executive floor that was in fact laid off…and my direct supervisor is Lisa Germani. That is something I am incredibly grateful for.
I could choose to sign this post as ‘Anonymous’ or ‘Does it Matter Who I am’ but it’s easy to leave ones name when you speak the truth.
Good lord people. Adler is one of THE best at TVG Channel. As someone who has worked with him throughout the years I feel the need to defend the guy. He’s on top of his stuff.
Not only ‘ugh’ is your post uncalled for, I wonder how old YOU are? Angry and jealous much? Take it elsewhere.
I’m so appalled by these posts. I briefly freelanced at TVG a few years ago. Yeah, the management was questionable which the employees always complained about (not exactly unique to that company, BTW), but I was always struck by how much the employees stuck together there. There was no back-stabbing, there was no in-fighting, and most people seemed to socialize extensively outside of the office. AND they had staff production jobs, virtually non-existent in this business!
It’s upsetting and disappointing to see the staff reduced to these ridiculous, hateful — and anonymous (how very brave!) — comments. I have to believe they don’t represent more than a couple of people there… at least, I hope.
Some of the comments posted don’t even make sense: commenters (clearly producers themselves) calling the shows “shitty.” Didn’t you guys PRODUCE them? Saying the execs couldn’t get jobs elsewhere?!? HELLO, didn’t YOU PEOPLE work there too?!
And a small aside to the aptly named “Ugh” who commented above about PA, whom I’ve known for some time: you may have noticed he wasn’t there last week during the layoffs. That’s because he’s spent the better part of the last two weeks at the bedside of his father, who’s been hospitalized with a serious disease. …and you think it’s been “a tough few days” for you… ?! Maybe you should sniff around for some facts before you post again.
Who was responsible for hiring Lisa Rinna and the fat one? Now that was some bad TV. The sad thing is the people producing live events at TV Guide are self proclaimed “veterans” of red carpet shows. Really? Your pre-show is unwatchable. The academy awards is the most important weekend in Hollywood and the best you can do is lips on crack screaming at people. And the fat one pretending to drive across country. My God! What was that crap?
Well PA seemed awfully chipper for someone who had a rough 2 weeks. He was all happiness and digging his haircut. So spare me your drama.
These post are not appaulling…they are truthful. The execs running these shows are not providing the proper staffing and production time to make these shows happen. And they really don’t care. And it shows in the final product. There are a lot of frustrated producers who wish they had the time and resources to produce a show but the EPs and SPs aren’t giving it to them.
Are you kidding me?
I have worked with the talent department, as well as hair/make-up and Raf in the studio crew, for years. As a publicist, I have brought multiple people into the studio, your (former) 6922 and 1800 building. I have worked with the likes of many of your talent bookers (Lisa, Michael, Tricia, Fernnitaa) and producers. My experience has been better than that at CNN, MSNBC, Kimmel or any of the E! group.
Bitterness is ugly when directed at people, personally. Anyone attacking individuals obviously doesn’t know what it’s like to be an adult, living and working with real-life issues. Come in at 10. Leave at 5. Take a long weekend…Whatever.
We make television, people. Not cure cancer.
Taylor ur loyalty is admirable but it obviously didn’t make u a invaluable employee and can u really call it the truth? Ur story is the same as everyone elses. The place chose not to give u the opportunity to shine and ultimately let u go.
Maybe ur in denial but I give u until ur 2wk severance runs out until u realize that despite ur contributions u meant nothing to them. Don’t expect any support or loyalty from them. Cut the cord they already have.
U were one of the nice ones, where did u finish?
A small piece of advice from a freelance producer: it doesn’t seem like it right now, but those of you who got laid off may have actually been given a gift of sorts…
Everything Lionsgate has said about TV Guide is that they are not interested in original programming but rather want to buy shows. Already bought Punk’d and are negotiating for a dozen other series. A company spokesman even reiterated this IN PRINT after the layoffs (go to The wrap-dot-com and search “TV Guide Network” and see what they said). There probably won’t even be any in-house production by the end of the year.
So those of you let go now just got a HUGE gift: a jump on the (very very very VERY limited) job market. Better to be looking now when a handful of people with similar experience are doing the same — AND in the summer months when fall shows start crewing up! — than to have to do it when the other 100+ producers all start looking for work in a few months!
So heed the advice of an old TV Guider who now works on a network show — and yes, who got laid off from there once too — skip the blogs and start hitting the streets! Check out the TV Acad and PGA job sites — good leads! Read the “In production” list in the trades — good leads! Carpe Diem!
Publicist, I think that’s commendable that you’ve worked with these people once a week for a few years. You don’t work with them eight to ten hour days everyday. These people have a different perspective. When I was there, I noticed that the production staff worked 10 to 12 hour days everyday sometimes on weekends. The executives however were like bankers. They didn’t care about the people that worked for them or how hard they worked. The execs are vapid insincere managers. There’s a reason why the production staff have nothing nice to say. It starts at the top from Singerman down!
It’s funny that only once someone loses their job do they have the balls to express how they really feel. For those people trying to discredit the network and execs at the guide they should have left a long time ago if that’s how they really felt. Times are tough, we are not the only company downsizing, and working in the entertainment business these layoffs should have not come at such a surprise after the acquisition from Lionsgate. We all new it was going to happen, it was just a matter of when.
I feel for the people that have lost their job but taking it out on the company and the people that work here is rather childish. If you’ve worked in this business long enough you would know that TVGN is a great place to work and there is a great group of people at the company.
As far as programming, without a budget it’s hard to put on the most amazing television ever. For all the cut backs over the last year I think everyone has done a pretty outstanding job all things considered.
stop crying, buck-up, get your resume together and get a new job. It sucks;that’s life.
Sabrina – it’s sweet your loyalty to Lisa. Too bad she didn’t show the same loyalty to you when she handpicked you to get let go. Oh oops, maybe you didn’t realize that. If she wanted you – you’d still be there. Or perhaps she was too busy saving her own worthless butt.
Listen…You are all eventually going to get axed. It’s just a matter of time. So for those of you handing out the words of wisdom like “stop crying and buck up” You better get you resume together too cuz your next. When it happens… the job market will probably be worse and you will all be competing for that last position available on VH1’s awesomely baddest celebrity weightloss breakups of 2009. In the meantime…go ahead and discredit TVG. A poorly run network thanks to Singerman and his band of merry turds.
Anon- I’m looking for the axe but haven’t found it just yet. I’m not naive, I do expect it but spare me the scary doomsday outlook. I have been paying attention to the failing economy and rising unemployment and realize the job market sucks. This is part of life and whining about it doesn’t accomplish anything. I still don’t understand why you’re blaming Singerman? Who hired you? How long did you have a job? Why did you even bother working for TVG if you hated it so much? It sounds like you should be ecstatic to have been let go by your vile hatred of the company and the people that you worked with.
Interesting. Look, TVG gets no respect because of a lot of reasons. Take Singerman, he does hire friends of his dads kids, and former “foxers”. It’s very true. He’s going to be needing a job soon too, so he’s playing his cards. He knows nothing about entertainment and he’s brought in a lot of people who know nothing about entertainment. No doubt the Lionsgate guys know this, afterall he hired Lisa and Joey, speaks for itself.
It’s really sad. It’s not like it used to be. And, he got the job b/c of his dad, nothing new. He’s just a geeky college kid riding on daddy’s success, fantasizing about all those girls coming through his office that he could never get in college. He makes a lot of empty promises, again, nothing new. But, everybody talks about it, even his so called friendly execs. Somebody needs to tell him he’s earned a bad reputation in that area alone. I feel bad for his wife! He’s a major flirt and he’s bad at his job.
Huh…I didn’t know daddy got him the job. Well…I think everyone has figured out that Singerman isn’t qualified. Like Berta sayz “you can roll manure in powdered sugar but it’s still not a jelly doughnut”.
The good news…Hooters is right around the corner. He can have his farewell party there.
The people running this network would best serve the world as paper weights and door stops.
How about the fact that Greg Hughes is a fucking moron.
Greg Hughes is a big moron. He got rid of the one person who knew what was going on and took care of the crew. We’ll miss you Chris.
Come on…..I dare someone to name one person that’s GOOD! Let’s take this in a positive turn. There are a lot of them there. Give some credit.