In a significant restructuring move, The Walt Disney Company is reportedly laying off approximately 200 employees across its ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks unit, which includes cable networks like FX and Freeform, as well as ABC and ABC News. The cuts, representing just under 6% of the combined workforce of these units, were confirmed by people familiar, according to a report from The Wallstreet Journal with the matter and are set to be formally announced to staff as early as Wednesday, March 5, 2025. This latest round of reductions marks another chapter in Disney’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations amid a rapidly evolving media landscape.
The layoffs come as Disney, like many traditional entertainment giants, grapples with declining ratings and revenue in its cable TV businesses. With consumers increasingly cutting the cord on cable packages and advertisers shifting budgets to streaming services and digital platforms, the company is redirecting resources toward high-growth areas like sports and entertainment content for its streaming offerings, notably Disney+ and ESPN. Over the past few years, Disney has implemented several staff reductions, reflecting a broader industry trend of scaling back on what were once core cable operations to fund competitive streaming ventures.
This comes as many media companies have been cutting back on staff, including Warner Bros. Discovery, which laid off about 200 employees earlier this year.
At ABC News, the cuts will hit several high-profile programs. The long-running news magazine shows 20/20 and Nightline are being consolidated into a single unit, resulting in job losses as overlapping roles are eliminated. Additionally, ABC is shuttering its political and data-driven news site 538, which employed around 15 staff members. The site, known for its election forecasts and statistical analysis, will cease operations as part of this restructuring. Meanwhile, all three hours of the Good Morning America branded shows will now fall under a single leadership structure, ending the separate production team previously dedicated to the third hour.
The Disney Entertainment Networks unit, encompassing broadcast networks like ABC and cable channels such as Freeform and FX, will also see staffing reductions, particularly in program planning and scheduling roles. These cuts reflect a broader contraction in the cable TV space, where networks once thrived but now face dwindling audiences and ad dollars. The industry newsletter Status was the first to report that layoffs were imminent at ABC News, setting the stage for Tuesday’s confirmation.
Disney’s latest moves underscore the challenges facing legacy media companies as they adapt to a streaming-dominated world. While the company has seen success with its streaming platforms—bolstered by blockbuster releases and live sports—the transition has not been without pain. The layoffs, though difficult for affected employees, are part of a strategic pivot to ensure Disney remains competitive.
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