Restructuring Costs

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Restructuring Costs [Abstract]

Restructuring Costs

Restructuring Costs

On April 20, 2023, the Company announced plans to reduce expenses by implementing an approximately 15% reduction in the current workforce. The reduction in workforce plan is part of a broader strategic reprioritization across the Company in order to accelerate revenue growth and improve upon profitability and cash flow. The Company incurred approximately $9.7 million of restructuring costs for the three months ended June 30, 2023, comprised mainly of severance and related benefit costs, of which $5.5 million were included in Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, $2.8 million were included in Sales and marketing, $0.6 million were included in General and administrative, and $0.8 million were included in Research and development. As of June 30, 2023, $3.4 million of restructuring costs remain unpaid and are included in Accrued compensation on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. These costs are expected to be paid primarily in the third quarter of 2023.

In March 2022, in connection with the acquisition of Complex Networks, the Company approved certain organizational changes to align sales and marketing and general and administrative functions as well as changes in content to better serve audience demands. Additionally, in June 2022, as part of a strategic repositioning of BuzzFeed News, the Company entered into a voluntary buyout proposal covering certain desks which was negotiated as part of collective bargaining between the Company and the BuzzFeed News Union. The Company incurred approximately $3.5 million and $5.3 million of restructuring costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, comprised mainly of severance and related benefit costs. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, $3.1 million were included in Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, $0.1 million were included in Sales and marketing, $0.2 million were included in General and administrative, and $0.1 million were included in Research and development. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, approximately $4.4 million were included in Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, $0.3 million were included in Sales and marketing, $0.5 million were included in General and administrative, and $0.1 million were included in Research and development.