To Focus On Audio Business, CNN Lays Off Staffers From Its Podcast Team

As the media firm refocuses on expanding its audio business, CNN has laid off some employees from its podcast team. Audio is a significant area of growth for CNN, according to a statement.

"Over the last several years we've learned a lot about the topics and productions that most resonate with our audiences. As a result, we've refined our strategy to focus our resources more specifically in those areas," The media mogul said.

It did not, however, say how many employees were let off or which series would be canceled, according to The Verge. Late on Wednesday, CNN Audio product manager Alexander McCall tweeted that he and other podcasting employees had been laid off.

"Realising I'm joining the My company invested heavily in podcasting, and then realised it's expensive and then didn't want to pay for that anymore," he Tweeted.

"My biggest question: What will become of our team's work? All the data we recorded, all the things we learned," McCall continued.

The vast majority of CNN's podcasts are about its own programmes and hosts. But earlier this year, the network revealed a few new series.

McCall continued on Twitter, "It's just a bummer to watch companies pull the plug on or disinvest from business units that are so young...especially when you've seen firsthand the work of so many people to make it profitable, to reach the goal,"

As a result of insufficient demand from the world of news consumption, CNN announced in April that it will shut down its paid news streaming service one month after it launched.