MLB Productions, the league's in-house TV and video production division, is being absorbed into MLB Network as part of the league's ongoing business reorganization under new Commissioner Rob Manfred. The move, aimed at creating operational efficiencies, resulted in a job loss of slightly less than half of MLB Productions' 58 employees. Those remaining will become part of MLB Network, now being led by new President Rob McGlarry. A decision on the MLB Productions brand name has not been made. MLB Network as part of its ongoing operations will continue to perform many of the functions carried out by MLB Productions, such as managing the league's official video archives, producing licensed content for various distribution partners and developing the annual World Series film. Popular MLB Productions projects have included "This Week in Baseball," "The Franchise" on Showtime and "Mission: October" on FS1. "To more efficiently produce original baseball content, we collectively evaluated the business needs and opportunities and have decided to combine production areas in order to meet those obligations," MLB Network said in a statement. "In that process, a number of positions will transition to MLB Network, and unfortunately a number of jobs will also be eliminated. Moving forward, all production employees will be assigned to MLB Network, and the combined operation will continue to produce the access-driven and award-winning programming that's been created for other networks including FS1, ESPN and A&E, as well as the MLB Network."
