Sesame Street Producer to Reduce Workforce by 20%

[PfcHammer]

Source: bloomberg.net

‘Sesame Street’ Producer to Reduce Workforce by 20% (Update1)

By James Callan

March 11 (Bloomberg) -- Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization that produces “Sesame Street,” is cutting 20 percent of its workforce because of the recession.

“After careful review, we have concluded that we will have to operate with fewer resources in order to achieve our strategic priorities,” New York-based Sesame Workshop said today in an e-mailed statement. The company said it eliminated 67 of 355 staff positions.

“Sesame Street,” featuring characters such as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has been on the air since 1969 and is the most widely viewed children’s TV show in the world, according to the producers. Three months ago, Sesame Workshop Chief Executive Officer Gary Knell told Bloomberg Radio that while the company was “able to withstand” recessions, it was not “immune.”

...

Revenue at the company increased 12 percent to $145 million in 2008, while operating expenses rose 14 percent to $141 million, according to the Web site. Program expenses at Sesame Workshop, which include content distribution and product licensing, totaled $116.4 million in last year, up from $100 million the year before.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aRl9xs4CNZYg&refer=us

[Kittycat]

1. Can they start with Prairie Dawn?

In all seriousness, sorry that people are losing their jobs. But some days I just wish that piano key cover would come crashing down on Whiney Dawn's fingers and put her out of puppet commission. Just sayin'

[LeftyMom]

5. Elmo.

Somewhere between my childhood and the birth of my kid, Sesame Street became The Elmo Show, with special guest appearances by Big Bird, etc.

Me no likey. The kid was none to impressed either. Eventually I got some old episodes and song compilations on DVD and he loved them.

[Kittycat]

6. Oh come on - nothing beats Elmo Hammer singing the Five Jive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZfX7Lv5bzY

[TheMightyFavog]

17. Damn straight.

Good gods, back before Elmo, The Street was fun for Adults to watch, too.

[Robbien]

2. Why are they reducing staff? Revenue exceeded expenses

Revenue of $145, expenses of $l41. No shareholders and no taxes.

So what's the problem?

[Kittycat]

3. Greed?

[Posteritatis]

8. Maybe they don't expect the surplus to be there next year? (nt)

[chollybocker]

4. Even dead muppets can be useful commodities.

Check: http://dlisted.com/node/31087

Don't enjoy!

[Posteritatis]

7. If Sesame Street goes under, I'm destroying the entire planet. Just letting everyone know. (nt)

[Noodleboy13]

9. If you see Bert by the side of the road flying a "Will Work for Food" sign..

make sure and give him a few bucks. With this downturn, maybe CookieMonster can take some time off for some much needed rehab.

And the less said about what "Tickle Me" Elmo has had to do for money, the better.

Peace
Noodleboy

[Doctor Cynic]

10. Sesame Street producer announces layoffs

Source: AP

NEW YORK–The crisis on Wall Street is plaguing Sesame Street.

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit producer of Sesame Street and other kids' programs, is cutting about one-fifth of its work force because of the economic downturn.

The New York-based company said Wednesday that it's eliminating 67 of 355 staff positions.

Declaring it is "not immune to the unprecedented challenges of today's economic environment," the company pronounced a need "to operate with fewer resources in order to achieve our strategic priorities.''

Read more: http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/600610

---

Sixty five, sixty six, sixty seven layoffs, ah ah ah ah!

[Ken Burch]

11. Was the Count the one who invented "generally accepted accounting principles"?

And is there any truth to the talk that the whole Sesame Street layoff thing was floated in order to deny Bert and Ernie domestic partner benefits?

[No Elephants]

12. I'm tempted to joke, but these are people who are now out of a job and

unlikely to find a place that can use their skills any time soon.

[CoffeeCat]

13. Why don't they send this guy to help?

[XemaSab]

14. Another unemployed journalist...

[Ken Burch]

21. Damn...it' AIN'T easy bein' green....

n/t.

[radfringe]

15. Unemployed - brought to you by the letter "U"

[Doctor Cynic]

19. Or is it the letter "W"?

[DeeDeeNY]

16. Hopefully they won't lay off any letters of the alphabet

But you never know.

:shrug:

[Javaman]

18. So sad, just the other day I saw Oscar the grouch eating out of a garbage can...

oh wait.

[lumberjack_jeff]

20. In this episode of Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch gets a roomate!

Sing along with me kids! "Unemployed on Sesame Street!... Unemployed on Sesame Street!"

[orwell2112]

22. Sesame Street to lay off the letters Q, X, Z, J, and the semicolon

NEW YORK. – In yet another troubling sign of the flailing economy, iconic television children’s show Sesame Street has announced layoffs, which the show’s producers say will affect 20% of its staff.

However, the cuts don’t stop there ...


Sesame Street to lay off the letters Q, X, Z, J, and the semicolon