By Donna Thomas, Executive Vice President, Studios, Vubiquity
Layoffs aren’t just hitting Silicon Valley. In 2025, the spotlight has turned to media and entertainment (M&E), with high-profile companies having to cut staff, leaving behind leaner teams and heavier workloads. This follows a bruising 2024 that saw nearly 15,000 M&E jobs vanish, according to Chicago-based Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. The plot twist? Even as content demand grows—especially for localized, high-quality programming—the people behind the scenes are disappearing. The result is a growing resource gap, exacerbated by the drain of institutional knowledge and operational support.
As a result, M&E companies are using technology not just to survive cutbacks—but to restructure for digital growth, increase automation and AI-enabled workflows, and tap into new revenue models. This is where Managed Service Providers (MSPs) like Vubiquity can step in to bridge the gaps with their global reach, deep expertise, and ability to adapt to media companies’ unique needs. Whether you’re managing content pipelines, meeting tight deadlines, or localizing content for global audiences, MSPs could well be the key to regaining operational strength and achieving sustainable growth.
The Challenge of Accessing Specialized Talent
With today’s leaner in-house teams, the real challenge isn’t finding skilled professionals—it’s having the ability to scale up fast when demand spikes. Recent layoffs, combined with tighter budgets, mean that when a major launch or time-sensitive project lands, there’s little room to absorb the extra workload without outside help.
Imagine facing a sudden demand for localized content for audiences in 10 different global markets. You start to realize how much you need specialized translators who understand cultural nuances, compliance reviewers for regional content regulations, or technical experts skilled in emerging standards. Hiring for these roles in-house, especially under financial constraints, feels next to impossible.
MSPs are game-changers here. Through longstanding global networks and extensive industry experience, they provide immediate access to world-class talent without the cost and time of traditional hiring. All those industry-specific roles you thought you couldn’t fill? MSPs provide them on demand when it matters most.
The New Crew: Navigating Change with Scalable Support
Take QC technicians. These professionals play a crucial role in ensuring content adheres to technical standards and is free of errors. Imagine the headache of scaling this function for a large-scale streaming launch. MSPs alleviate this pressure by providing scalable, trained QC specialists, saving time, money, and stress. By centralizing standards and workflows, M&E companies can ensure brand and content consistency across regions and platforms—critical for global releases.
Rather than duplicating expensive resources in every location, MSPs allow companies to tap into global pools of specialized talent who can support multiple teams without geographic constraints. This is especially valuable during peak production cycles or in the wake of layoffs. Think of it this way: you don’t just get a skilled editor for a French arthouse film or a compliance expert for content in Japan; you gain access to a strategic partner who understands the end-to-end process of content creation and delivery in any market.
The beauty of global centers is how they empower media companies to plug key resource gaps fast. For example:
- A media organization based in Los Angeles needs content localization for a new French audience. The MSP CoE bridges the gap with on-demand, native-speaking translators and culturally aligned quality control.
- A streaming platform struggling with the turnaround time for subtitles can tap into “follow-the-sun” workflows offered by MSP teams in strategic markets, reducing project timelines by days.
This is talent augmentation at its finest. It’s not just about filling holes in the team; it’s about elevating the entire production process.
Delivering quality, globally
The challenge of keeping quality high when managing distributed teams across time zones can become a logistical nightmare. With their ability to embed efficient systems and adapt seamlessly to remote and distributed work models, MSPs allow your team to focus on creative priorities while the MSP-managed team handles technical execution without a drop in quality.
MSPs optimize workflows, integrate automation and AI-enabled solutions, and leverage skilled, distributed teams to maintain quality and consistency across projects.
Perhaps one of the lesser-known advantages of working with MSPs is the way they reduce the turnover burden. High-performing, MSP-managed teams aren’t just contract workers who leave when the project wraps. They become long-term partners in helping you scale, adapt, and maintain operational confidence, even during unpredictable industry shifts.
From Cutbacks to Comebacks: Turning Turbulence into Opportunity
If you’ve been questioning whether you can meet your company’s creative and operational needs while sticking to a tight budget with a smaller team, MSPs might just exceed your expectations. Here’s what MSPs offer that makes them invaluable right now:
- Flexibility: Whether it’s ramping up for a seasonal spike or tapping into new markets, MSPs can scale resources up or down with ease.
- Expertise without overhead: Gain access to specialized talent and regional expertise without the costs of permanent hires.
- Faster time-to-market: Round-the-clock teams ensure your content production never sleeps.
- Operational resilience: Your team’s health and workload stay protected, minimizing disruptions and delays.
Managed Service Providers have proven themselves as critical allies in the media and entertainment space. By leveraging their global talent networks, expertise, and adaptive workflows, they help media companies overcome resource shortages and thrive in one of the most demanding industries in the world.
Whether filling your in-house talent gaps or scaling to meet new demands, MSPs like Vubiquity allow you to focus on what matters most: creating exceptional content that resonates with audiences worldwide.
If you’re ready to experience the relief an MSP can bring to your resource challenges, don’t hesitate. Tap into the global talent pool and take your projects to the next level. The competitive edge you’ve been looking for starts here.