Several sources have indicated Z Living, the struggling health and wellness-focused programmer, made significant cutbacks today at its U.S. corporate offices in New York City.
The number of the cutbacks could not be independently determined, but sources familiar with the company said that at one point at least 30 people worked at its New York offices.
An e-mail to Z Living’s vice president of marketing Jennifer Villani was returned stating that Friday was her last day at the company. She referred all inquiries to Z Living CEO Gyaneshwar Tewari. He did not immediately return a request for comment.
Z Living has been under fire lately, especially after former marketing chief Michael Snyder filed a discrimination suit against the company in December, claiming management regularly prevented him from performing his duties and fired him because he is a Jewish American. The company also was under investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for discriminatory practices. It could not be determined if that investigation is ongoing.
Z Living, formerly Veria Living, launched in the U.S. in 2007 on EchoStar Communications, now Dish Network. The network, which features programming promoting holistic medicine, yoga and a healthy lifestyle, has found it difficult to gain additional carriage. According to its website, the network is currently available on Cablevision Systems, RCN, FiOS TV, Dish Network, GCI in Alaska and Comcast’s Chicago system. Programming also is available to stream over the Internet via Z Living GO, and free-to-air on digital broadcast stations WSKC-CD in Atlanta, WOCK-CD in Chicago and KSDY-LD in San Diego.
Kent Gibbons contributed reporting to this story.
