'C' is for cutbacks: 'Sesame' lays off workers

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Gael Fashingbauer Cooper TODAY

3 hours ago

RICHARD TERMINE / Sesame Workshop via AP

Sesame Workshop, creators of "Sesame Street," had to cut staff on Tuesday.

It's a sad day on the "Street." Sesame Workshop, makers of the classic children's program "Sesame Street," laid off approximately 10 percent of its employees Tuesday.

"Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street, is constantly assessing where we must invest for the future in response to today's rapidly changing digital environment," the company said in a statement obtained by Reuters. "After careful review, we have concluded that we must reduce our workforce by approximately 10% to strategically focus our resources."

According to Deadline.com, 30 employees lost their jobs, and the company's Sesame Learning program and Global Education departments will be absorbed into other parts of the company. Former Newsweek, Inc. CEO Tom Ascheim, who was an executive vice-president with Sesame Leaning, was one of those laid off, Deadline reports.

Sesame Learning was described by the company as "a vital Workshop initiative aimed (at bringing) the 'Sesame Street'? advantage to classrooms and child-care settings."

There was no word on whether "Sesame Street," the workshop's Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning program, would be directly affected.

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/c-cutbacks-sesame-lays-workers-6C10450530

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