ABC News President David Westin had already been keeping a tight grip on spending, paring about 35 positions annually in recent years from his division. In October, he asked news executives to fly "one grade below what they're entitled to" and to "stay in 'B' level hotels."
More cuts at ABC Entertainment are expected. Last week, ABC merged its separate network and TV production operations into one unit under ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson, who now must integrate and reshape the staff that oversees the production of prime-time comedies and dramas.
Media companies that depend on advertising have been slammed during the last six months. Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. Entertainment eliminated about 600 people this month, and the company's AOL unit said this week that it would cut an additional 700 jobs. Radio giant Clear Channel Communications Inc. slashed 1,850 jobs.
Last month, Viacom Inc., which owns MTV Networks and Paramount Pictures, eliminated 850 positions, and NBC Universal cut several hundred jobs to save $500 million this year.
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meg.james@latimes.com
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Staff writers Dawn C. Chmielewski and Matea Gold contributed to this report.
