OpenTV, the interactive TV firm that owns Static 2358, is to restructure with the loss of
OpenTV, the interactive TV firm that owns Static 2358, is to restructure with the loss of 315 positions, writes Barbara Marshall.The losses represent 47 per cent of the US firm's global workforce and will include the closure of eight regional offices, including the London OpenTV base. Remaining staff will move to Static 2358's London premises.Although unconfirmed, around 30 per cent of Static's staff are understood to be facing redundancy. Static co-founder Mark Rock will also leave, although chief executive and co-founder Jasper Smith will remain.The restructure was first mooted in OpenTV's second quarter statement early in August which reported a four-fold increase in losses compared with the same period last year. It follows a complicated series of corporate takeovers in which OpenTV was bought in August by Liberty Media's interactive division Liberty Broadband Interactive Television (LBIT). LBIT has since transferred to OpenTV another acquisition it made in August - Wink Communications.OpenTV is also in the process of buying ACTV, another deal initiated by LBIT.A spokesman said some of the job losses were due to the duplication of effort in regions following the deals.