Los Angeles - NBC Universal (NYSE: GE) on Thursday began laying off what are expected to be as many as 500 employees, or 3% of its workforce, including at least 30 at NBC News, 80 at CBNC, 70 at Universal including the studio and theme parks, and 50 in its local media group, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The layoffs are part of a $500 million cost reduction plan outlined by CEO Jeff Zucker in October.

Among those cut from the news division were Dallas reporter Don Teague, John Larson of "Dateline NBC" and Mark Mullen, the company's Beijing Olympics bureau chief, according to the Associated Press.

Also, CNBC's "The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch" is being put on hiatus, while Deutsch will remain to do monthly specials and other programming.

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http://snipurl.com/76fz0 (Hollywood Reporter)