Weekend Wrap-Up #4: 20th October 2008, and don't the chicks dig it?

Hey Hey It’s Monday! Time for another wrap-up of all the stories that broke over the weekend.

#1 NBC Universal to cut $500 Million (US) in 2009 [THR]

NBC Universal must slash $500 million — or about 3% — out of its budget next year, Jeff Zucker told employees in a Friday memo that referred to cuts in staff costs but stopped short of indicating that layoffs were coming. Beyond “staffing costs,” the CEO said the savings will come through a reduction in promotional expenses and in such discretionary spending as entertainment, travel and outside consultants. “This kind of message is never easy, but it is the right step to make and the right time to make it,” Zucker said.

More coverage at Variety.

Unlike the company’s 2006 “NBC 2.0″ initiative, the company isn’t specifically plotting a personnel reduction; it’s unclear, therefore, how many staffers might be impacted by the corporate-wide spending cut.

Jack Donaghy Got out just in time!

#2 Things heat up further with the Screen Actors Guild: SAG requests federal mediation. [NY Times]

Reuters reports:

The U.S. Screen Actors Guild said on Sunday its board has voted to ask that a federal mediator be brought into labor contract negotiations.

SAG said the mediator may be asked to send a strike authorization referendum to members if the arbitration process fails.

A strike authorization would require 75 percent approval of members who vote.

More at The Hollywood Reporter

But what about the Economy? Lols and Rofls all round.

#3 Mildura to lead digital switch [Talking Television AU]

The north-west Victorian city of Mildura is set to lead the state into the world of digital-only television.The Age reports today that Mildura is to be earmarked as the first region to have analogue signals switched off in early-2010, with the rest of the state to follow a year later.

Also at The Age.

Regional switch overs aren’t actually that bad an idea in all fairness.

#4 NITV management probe. [The Australian]

MANAGEMENT of the fledgling National Indigenous Television network is being investigated for alleged financial mismanagement.

The investigation will also look into the failure to treat its indigenous staff with respect.

The NITV board, chaired by Professor Larissa Behrendt, is awaiting delivery of two independent reports it ordered after a series of allegations were made in May by former business development manager Neville Perkins.