Warner Bros. Entertainment CEO Kevin Tsujihara confirmed impending layoffs across the studio in a memo sent Thursday afternoon to employees. Although no date or numbers were given, Deadline suggests the cuts will likely take place in the fourth quarter.

"We are doing our best to minimize staff reductions," wrote Tsujihara, who was named CEO in January 2013. "However, and it pains me to say this, positions will be eliminated — at every level — across the Studio."

Warner Bros.' subsidiaries include DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Home Video and New Line Cinema. It also co-owns The CW with CBS Corporation.

Although reports earlier this week indicated the studio would offer buyouts before it resorted to layoffs, there's no mention of that approach in the memo. In fact, it would seem buyouts are off the table, as Tsujihara's introduction makes it clear he wanted"to set the record straight" following "misinformation in the press."

Fellow Time Warner division Turner Broadcasting, which includes Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CNN and TNT, began offering buyouts last month to between 500 and 600 of its U.S. workforce.

While Warner Bros. has experienced a rough summer -- Godzilla was a hit, but Edge of Tomorrow and 300: Rise of an Empire performed only moderately -- Deadline reports its sources say the layoffs are part of a long-term growth strategy that's been in the works for some time. Still, an insider asserts Rupert Murdoch's rejected $80 billion bid last month for Time Warner "accelerated" the plan.

The text of Kevin Tsujihara's memo can be read below:

Dear Colleagues:

I wanted you to hear directly from me about our plans for the Studio. In recent days, we have started to hear rumors here at the company and to read misinformation in the press, so I'd like to set the record straight. I know that the hard work and dedication of every employee around the world is the key to Warner Bros.' success, and I am sorry for the distraction this situation brings to the workplace.

At Warner Bros., we work with the world's most extraordinary storytellers, and our focus has always been to provide the creative environment and financial resources they need to realize their vision. Our commitment to that won't change. In fact, we're investing more than ever in our film and television productions.

Since I became CEO, I've been working with the Studio's senior management team to create a plan to position Warner Bros. for future growth, maintaining our position as the industry's leader in quality and scale — all while safeguarding our traditions and legacy. This will require us to reduce costs and reallocate resources to our high-growth businesses.

Here at Warner Bros., we are currently in a position of unparalleled strength. To maintain this position, we are constantly reviewing our global businesses to make sure we're operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. We are doing our best to minimize staff reductions. However, and it pains me to say this, positions will be eliminated—at every level—across the Studio. In making these decisions, we will follow all applicable protocols. Your divisional and departmental leadership will share more information with you about these changes in the months ahead.

Despite the challenges we face, we need to focus on the tasks at hand, maintain the sense of excellence that has defined our company for more than 90 years, and move forward knowing that, regardless of any organizational changes, we will remain the industry's gold standard.

Thank you, again, for your support and dedication to this company.