Orbit layoffs begin

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Orbit layoffs begin
Chris Forrester
06-12-2009

Local reports say that the fall-out from the recent Showtime-Orbit ‘merger' is now affecting jobs. The first batch of lay-offs from Orbit's HQ in Bahrain have started. (see also ‘Merger made in Hell' story in this current issue).

Digital Production Middle East, a Dubai-based trade magazine, is reporting that "several" Bahrain staff have been notified, and the redundancies are mostly affecting commercial and marketing departments.

Other lay-offs are expected as a result of the two pay-TV companies consolidation.

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UPDATE 2 - First layoffs at Orbit-Showtime
by Vijaya Cherian on Dec 6, 2009

The first round of lay-offs at Orbit- Showtime has begun, DPME.com can reveal.

Sources close to the company claim that 140 employees at Orbit-Showtime’s Bahrain office have been notified although no official numbers have been revealed.

Orbit-Showtime refused to comment when contacted by DPME.com.

People in the commercial and marketing departments are said to have been the most affected although no one was available to confirm this.

No lay-offs have been announced at the newly-merged company’s Dubai office yet although this is also inevitable, unnamed company sources say.

This is only the first round of redundancies at Orbit-Showtime.

Two months ago, sources had told DPME.com that all employees were being evaluated and were told that redundancies would be inevitable in December 2009.