Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 14, 2008 at 18:36:23:
In Reply to: Large Downsizing At Sirius XM posted by chicagomedia.org on October 14, 2008 at 18:34:11:
At least 50 people were downsized out of their jobs at Sirius XM on Tuesday (Oct. 14), slightly ahead of schedule: The name of the game is now "damage control," as the company's carefully laid termination plans inadvertently leaked a little early to those adversely affected employees. R&R has learned that the avalanche began on Monday (Oct. 13), when an employee routinely accessed the company's internal Ultipro payroll site and was startled to find a termination date of Oct. 15 next to their name. Shortly thereafter, fellow staffers alerted, the great land rush began, as all employees within shouting distance logged on to try and ascertain their fate. Shortly thereafter, access to the site was reportedly denied, but by then the damage had been done. We hear an emergency management meeting was held Monday afternoon, the memos from HR began flying, and the terminated employees were formally contacted.
Among the names we're hearing are caught up in this first round of cuts: Eight-and-a-half-year vet Kurt Gilchrist, senior PD of XM's Decades channels; George Taylor Morris, a jock on XM Deep Tracks and senior director of original programming; Kandy Klutch, afternoon talent on XM '80s on 8; John Clay, PD of XM's '70s on 7; PD Billy Zero and "Dean of Music" Tobi from XMU; alternative channel Ethel MD Erik Range; Rick Lambert, PD of new wave channel Fred and an eight-year company vet; and Bill Hutton, PD of classic alternative channel Lucy. R&R also hears that while some of these employees are leaving immediately, some are staying for another couple of weeks, when a second wave of terminations may wash over the satellite nation.
Another date being tossed around is Nov. 5, when it's rumored that a new combined Sirius XM lineup will be rolled out -- rather than doing an a la carte/pick from both sides dealie like had been previously announced, it's looking like both will consolidate into a single channel lineup that will be beamed out over both Sirius' and XM's networks. R&R hears that both lineups are currently under scrutiny and, where there's duplication, one side's offering will be nixed -- and it's looking like Sirius is winning.
(Kevin Carter & Keith Berman, Radio & Records)