There had been rumblings since late 2022 regarding changes and across the board layoffs at CNN en Español, amid overall cutbacks at CNN.
A much clearer picture of what will happen at the Spanish-language cable news network emerged this week. CNNE will cut back on linear programming to focus on a realignment to a “digital-first operation,” move its production to Mexico City and lay off employees.
In a May 25 memo sent to staff, CNNE SVP and GM Cynthia Hudson wrote:
“In the coming months, we will be streamlining our linear news output, shifting production to our Mexico City bureau and introducing new cross-platform programming. We will also be investing in CNNE’s digital platform, safeguarding CNNE’s newsgathering strength in the U.S. and utilizing our network-wide investments in content management to create a greatly enhanced digital user experience. This afternoon I informed the CNN en Español team about these changes, which will impact some of our colleagues.”
The realignment to focus on digital is a strategic shift based on changing audience viewing habits, a CNN company source familiar with plans tells Media Moves, who pointed out that “CNNE’s digital audience has grown by 20% since 2019” and the company wants to cater to those viewers.
“That said, linear is still very much part of our future. We will have a strong, focused linear operation spread across Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Atlanta and Miami, and correspondents across the US – in LA, NY, Atlanta, Miami and DC, as well as correspondents and contributors worldwide,” said the company source, who added that while CNNE is investing in a new HD studio in Mexico City and have new flash studios in Atlanta, the network will keep a studio in Miami.
At least one insider estimated over 200 people will be laid off, the company source said the number is more in the dozens.* Another source said some staffers were laid off this week. Others will be phased out in two groups – one working until July 28 and the other until September 1st.
The company source said some US-based on-air talent will stay on board, but would not comment on who, and acknowledged “affected employees will remain with us for a few more months,” but also stated that “positions will be added in Mexico City, Buenos Aires and L.A., and will be posted in the coming weeks.”
Some high profile on-air program hosts, including Camilo Egaña and Xavier Serbia, were laid off and left CNNE in December 2022.
Below is the memo sent to staff about the changes.
* Updated to reflect the company source disputed the estimated number of layoffs.
