Machinima fires most of its employees as part of a merger with Otter Media – News

Variety reported Friday that Machinima had fired 81 people on a team of about 100 people. The Hollywood journalist Similarly, reported Friday that the media company was shutting down.

The layoffs occurred two weeks ago and the date of layoff will be March 16, according to a California law requiring 60 days' notice of collective redundancies.

AT & T integrated Machinima into its digital media company, Otter Media, on Jan. 1, as part of a broader restructuring that resulted in the layoff of approximately 10 percent of the company's workforce. Otter Media. All videos on Machinima Youtube Channels have recently been switched to private mode without notice.

according to Variety, several independent creators under Machinima have already been moved to the Fullscreen Creator Services team, and Machinima's premium content team has joined Otter Media.

A representative from Otter Media stated Variety that the brand still exists and that "Otter has brought valuable elements of Machinima's activity which, in our view, reinforce our focus on the gaming and anime community". A spokesman said The Hollywood journalist "A limited number of Machinima employees remain within the company, which is now actively providing services aimed at enriching the combined portfolio of Otter Media."

Machinima was founded in 2000 on its own website and was acquired by Warner Bros. Digital Networks in 2016. The company maintained a network hosting video game content creators and other popular programming, such as Street Fighter: Assbadin's Fist and Street Fighter V series: Resurrection.

In August, AT & T announced the acquisition of 100% of Otter Media to its former co-owner, the Chernin Group. AT & T then announced its intention to merge the company into WarnerMedia, the new content company created after AT & T's acquisition of Time Warner in June.

Since the acquisition, WarnerMedia has closed the DramaFever streaming service on October 16, resulting in the dismissal of 20% of the company's 110 employees. WarnerMedia also closed the FilmStruck streaming service on November 29th.

Source: Variety (Todd Spangler), The Hollywood Reporter (Patrick Shanley)