Comments on: Sources: Layoffs hit RealNetworks

The online media company, which owns music service Rhapsody, went through a round of layoffs on Thursday, according to multiple sources. About 130 people have been cut.

[chrisfrary]

Real has THAT many employees? That's news to me.

[TSimon17]

"Earlier on Thursday, gossip blog Gawker had reported that the New York office of Rhapsody America, a joint venture between RealNetworks and Viacom's MTV Networks, was closing. RealNetworks denied this report, and a source told CNET News that it was indeed untrue."

Actually, no, it's completely true. Whole Rhapsody NY office is shuttered except two people are moving on to Real.

[caroline.mccarthy]

You're the second person who's told me this -- I will look into it. Thanks!

[dwinks]

I can't believe they still have any employees, considering the fact that RealPlayer is pretty much spyware. StopBadware.org classifies it as "badware". It installs tons of crap that requires manual removal to get rid of, constantly pops ads up on the screen, etc. RealPlayer and WeatherBug are the top 2 pieces of crapware/spyware/adware I remove from computers I fix, the day that both of them die will be sweet to me.

[gggg sssss]

The writing was on the wall when MS got Windows Media player to actually work. In 1999. Why are they still even around?

[achistiakoff]

I'm not sure which is sadder: the fact that RealNetworks is letting people go, or the fact that, in and among the other <a href="http://www.workingpoint.com/blog/2009/11/11/deck-the-halls-with-pink-slips/">bevy of layoffs over the past 10 days</a>, Real's are actually smaller than most. Best wishes to those families whose holiday plans just got a brutal surprise.