CBS News began the task Thursday morning of notifying people who will lose their jobs as a result of the cancellation of “60 Minutes Wednesday.”

Sources said the toll could be as many as 50 jobs lost out of an estimated 75 that had been put in doubt by the May 18 announcement by CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves that the network will take the seven-season-old newsmagazine off the schedule for the 2005-06 season.

It was not immediately known who received the grim news Thursday. A CBS News spokeswoman declined to comment.