NBCUniversal is cutting jobs across its global streaming technology operation, with the majority of the proposed reductions expected to affect employees at Sky in the UK and Europe.
The changes are expected to hit engineering and quality assurance teams, according to people familiar with the situation cited by Business Insider. Some US-based NBCUniversal employees are also expected to be affected.
The exact number of people who will ultimately lose their jobs has not yet been confirmed. Reuters reported that the final figure will depend on the outcome of consultations with affected employees.
The proposed cuts come at a particularly significant moment for Comcast, which is preparing to separate NBCUniversal and Sky from its broadband and connectivity businesses.
Why Is NBCUniversal Cutting Streaming Technology Jobs?
NBCUniversal said the changes are intended to reshape its Global Streaming Technology organisation while continuing to invest in streaming products and technology.
'As NBCUniversal and Sky continue to invest in our streaming products and technology, we are proposing changes to our Global Streaming Technology organisation, which will impact some roles,' an NBCUniversal spokesperson said, according to Business Insider.
The company said the restructuring would ensure it has the appropriate structure and resources for future growth and allow it to serve customers and partners better.
The move comes as traditional media companies continue to reassess the cost of running streaming services. Years of heavy spending on content, technology and infrastructure have put pressure on media groups to improve the margins of their streaming operations.
Most Cuts Are Expected at Sky
Sky, Comcast's European media arm, is expected to bear most of the impact. The affected operation is NBCUniversal's global streaming technology group, which includes teams responsible for engineering and quality assurance.
Workers affected by the proposed changes were reportedly informed this week. In the UK, however, employees facing redundancy must go through a consultation process, meaning the roles will not necessarily disappear immediately.
The situation highlights the difficult balance facing streaming businesses: companies still need large technology teams to build and maintain increasingly complex platforms, while simultaneously trying to control costs.
Comcast Is Preparing for a Major Corporate Split
The job cuts are also taking place as Comcast prepares to separate NBCUniversal and Sky from its broadband and connectivity operations.
Comcast announced in June that it intends to create two independent publicly traded companies through a spin-off. NBCUniversal would become the home of the company's media and entertainment assets, including Peacock, Universal's film and television operations and Sky. The separation is expected to take place around the middle of 2027.
That means NBCUniversal is effectively preparing its technology infrastructure and workforce for life as a standalone media company. The restructuring could therefore be more than a straightforward cost-cutting exercise. It comes as the company determines which technology resources it needs for the next stage of its streaming business.
What Does ITV Have to Do With the Changes?
The timing is particularly notable because Sky has also agreed to acquire ITV's television and streaming business. In July, Comcast-owned Sky agreed to acquire ITV's Media & Entertainment business for up to £1.6 billion. The deal includes ITV's broadcast channels and ITVX streaming service, while ITV Studios is being separated from the transaction.
The combination would create a much larger UK media and streaming operation, putting additional importance on how Sky's technology platforms are organised.
Business Insider reported that one Peacock technology employee questioned how the company would meet its 2027 objectives, including separating from Comcast and incorporating ITV into its platform. That comment represents the employee's concern and has not been presented by NBCUniversal as an official explanation for the restructuring.
The ITV transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2027, subject to regulatory and other conditions.
Peacock Has Just Reached a Major Milestone
The layoffs also come despite signs of improvement at Peacock. NBCUniversal's US streaming service reported its first adjusted EBITDA profit earlier this year. In Comcast's second-quarter results, Peacock-related revenue reached $1.9 billion while adjusted EBITDA was $189 million for the quarter.
That makes the timing of the technology cuts particularly striking. However, profitability in one part of a streaming business does not necessarily mean every department is expanding. Companies can simultaneously increase investment in a product while restructuring the teams responsible for building and operating it.
For NBCUniversal, the current changes appear to be part of a broader attempt to align its streaming technology operation with the company's next phase, as Sky and NBCUniversal prepare for a new corporate structure and Sky moves towards integrating ITV's media assets.
NBCUniversal Has Already Cut Streaming Jobs This Year
The latest reductions are not the first streaming-related job cuts at NBCUniversal in 2026. The company eliminated dozens of positions in March after the closure of Showmax, the African streaming service it operated with French broadcaster Canal+.
Other major media companies have also been cutting staff as they restructure around streaming. Disney, for example, has announced several rounds of workforce reductions this year, while the broader media industry continues to deal with declining traditional television audiences and intense competition from Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and other digital platforms.
