Over the past year, from early 2025 through early 2026, the newsrooms of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC have faced substantial workforce reductions as the media industry grapples with declining linear television ratings, shifting advertising revenues, and corporate restructurings. These layoffs reflect broader trends in broadcast journalism, where traditional networks are adapting to a digital-first landscape amid economic pressures and mergers. In total, more than 650 employees have been let go across these four major networks during this period, with additional cuts planned or underway.
ABC News, a division of The Walt Disney Company, underwent one of the most significant rounds of layoffs in March 2025. The company eliminated nearly 200 positions, which accounted for about 6% of the workforce in its ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks. A majority of these reductions targeted ABC News staff based in New York, where the network’s primary operations are housed. This move was part of an effort to consolidate long-form news programming, such as merging units responsible for shows like “20/20” and “Nightline.” Earlier in the year, in May 2025, Disney had also trimmed just under 200 roles from similar divisions, with many impacting ABC News directly. These actions came amid falling viewership for traditional broadcast news and a push to reallocate resources toward streaming and digital platforms. ABC News, which employs around 3,100 people, has not announced further cuts into 2026, but the industry-wide slowdown suggests ongoing vigilance in cost management.
CBS News, part of Paramount Global, experienced its own wave of reductions in October 2025, when approximately 100 staffers were laid off as part of a company-wide cut of about 1,000 jobs. This followed the completion of an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which aimed to achieve $2 billion in overall cost savings. The layoffs affected various divisions, including the cancellation of streaming versions of “CBS Mornings” and “CBS Evening News,” as well as the closure of the Johannesburg bureau. With a workforce of roughly 2,500 employees, CBS News is now preparing for another substantial round of cuts in 2026. Reports from February 2026 indicate that the network is considering reductions of at least 15% of its staff, which could impact more than 375 positions starting as early as March. This overhaul is tied to a strategic shift under new leadership, focusing on streaming video and diverse viewpoints to attract broader audiences.
Fox News, owned by Fox Corporation, has seen fewer publicly detailed national-level layoffs compared to its peers, but affiliated local news operations have not been spared. In February 2026, Nexstar Media Group, the largest owner of local television stations in the U.S., including many Fox affiliates, began cutting staff at stations aligned with ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. These reductions, affecting an undisclosed number of employees, were described as part of a strategy to streamline operations and handle debt from acquisitions. Fox News itself, with an estimated staff of around 3,000, has maintained relative stability at its national headquarters, but the broader media environment—including a surge in U.S. layoffs exceeding 1.1 million in 2025—has influenced local newsrooms. The network’s parent company, Fox Corporation, employs about 10,400 people overall, and while no major national cuts were reported in 2025 or early 2026, industry analysts note that Fox has been investing in digital expansion to offset traditional TV declines.
NBC News, under NBCUniversal, initiated layoffs in October 2025, affecting about 150 employees, or roughly 7% of its approximately 2,000-person staff. These cuts were scattered across the organization and preceded the spinoff of cable networks MSNBC and CNBC into a new entity called Versant Media Group. The reductions aimed to eliminate redundancies in shared resources like newsgathering and graphics departments. Notably, the layoffs dismantled dedicated teams for digital verticals focusing on diverse communities, though the content areas were expected to continue through integrated efforts. No on-air anchors were impacted, and affected employees received severance packages. As of early 2026, NBC News has not signaled additional rounds, but the separation from Versant continues to reshape its operational structure.
These workforce reductions highlight the challenges facing broadcast news in an era dominated by cord-cutting, artificial intelligence-driven efficiencies, and competition from social media and streaming giants. The total layoffs across ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox-affiliated operations underscore a pivotal moment for the industry, where networks are forced to balance journalistic integrity with financial sustainability. As viewership fragments, these organizations are increasingly pivoting to online platforms, but the human cost of adaptation remains evident in the ongoing staff cuts raise questions about the future of local news.
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