Studio chiefs of Warner Bros. Entertainment sent an email to employees worldwide on Tuesday saying they will have to cut jobs in coming weeks due to the current economic downturn.

"We are very sad to announce that based on the global economic situation and current business forecasts, the Studio will have to make staff reductions in the coming weeks in order to control costs," wrote Barry Meyer, chairman and chief executive, and Alan Horn, president of the studio.

"Over the next few weeks, specific information regarding cost-cutting measures, including staff reductions, will be shared with you on a divisional or departmental level by your management team," the executives said in the email sent worldwide.

A spokesman said that while no final decision had been made internationally, the company expects the layoffs, elimination of open positions and outsourcing to affect nearly 800 positions worldwide, or about 10 percent of the company's 8,000 employees.

(Reporting by Sue Zeidler, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)