RealNetworks Laying Off 4 Percent Of Staff Today; About 70 Jobs; CEO Memo

RealNetworks

Last week, RealNetworks (NSDQ: RNWK) CEO Rob Glaser talked about how cost cuts helped the company achieve a surprise Q3 profit. Now we’ve confirmed that he’s cutting more — this time, 4 percent of the staff, or roughly 70 jobs out of 1,700. It may not end out as a net 4 percent loss, though, as the company is also hiring in some areas. It’s the second significant layoff in a year: last December, Real cut 7.5 percent of its staff across the company — about 130 jobs. The company also laid off 12 people in its Rhapsody group in August. This round was reported first reported by Kara Swisher.

Update: We’ve obtained a copy of Glaser’s explaining the move to RealNetworks’ staff (embedded below). Glaser says the 70 layoffs, which were almost evenly split between the U.S. and the international, primarily affect Technology Products and Solutions and Media Software and Services.

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From: Rob Glaser [mailto:robg@real.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 12:01 PM
To: real@real.com
Subject: Important Organizational News

Team —

I

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