Sony Pictures Networks India has reduced its employee strength by more than 100 people as part of an ongoing restructuring exercise. The move underscores the growing cost pressures faced by broadcasters in a subdued advertising market.
The job cuts are understood to span several functions and teams, forming part of a broader effort to realign costs and streamline operations. Industry sources indicate that the exercise may eventually impact close to a tenth of the company’s overall workforce. The reductions are spread across departments, while the digital streaming business, SonyLIV, is said to have remained largely unaffected.
Middle- and senior- management roles have also felt the impact. Executives from areas such as distribution marketing and channel marketing are among those who have exited or are expected to do so shortly. Some senior professionals are likely to complete their transition out of the organisation by the end of the month.
The current round of layoffs follows earlier internal discussions around a redesigned organisational structure. Initial estimates had suggested a larger impact, but the final number is now believed to be lower than first anticipated. Even so, the exercise represents one of the more significant workforce rationalisations at the network in recent years.
Employees who have been asked to leave are expected to receive severance benefits linked to their length of service. These payouts are structured on a multiple-month salary basis, in line with standard industry practice.
The workforce reduction comes alongside wider operational changes announced earlier this year. The network has moved to a model that gives content teams greater ownership across programming, marketing and on-air promotions, cutting across both television and digital platforms. Revenue functions have also been brought under a unified leadership structure.
The developments reflect the broader challenges facing India’s media and entertainment industry, as companies recalibrate business models, manage rising costs and navigate an uncertain advertising environment while continuing to invest in digital growth.
