The latest shakeup in the world of media has resulted in Disney laying off nearly 6% of its total staff across ABC News and its TV division. Per Variety, via a source close to the matter, the 6% figure means that about 200 workers across both branches will be losing their jobs.
Also, as part of the cuts, the company is discontinuing its FiveThirtyEight (538) data unit that had been part of ESPN before being absorbed by ABC News. The outlet had become a top source for analyzing polling data before various elections in the U.S. Disney did not make executives available for comment, Variety states.
The ABC News cuts are due to combining different staffing groups through moves that the company previously announced. For instance, all units of the ABC staple Good Morning America, including its daily morning news show as well as GMA3 and ABC News’ overnight broadcasts, were previously combined and reported to executive Simone Swink. Additionally, ABC News also combined its units that make up its long-form storytelling shows like 20/20 and Nightline.
Disney Cut 75 Workers Last Year
The source close to the matter tells Variety that most of the cuts will be felt by ABC News, which also lost employees back in October 2024 as Disney cut 75 staff members across the news outlet and its local affiliates.
Back in May 2024, Disney’s Pixar division announced that about 14% of its workforce had been let go, which was the biggest restructuring in the history of Pixar. Before the firings, Pixar employed about 1,300 people. At that time, The Hollywood Reporter stated that the layoffs were part of Iger’s focus on the theatrical experience and plans to improve the quality of the films the studio releases in theaters. That meant fewer original titles for Disney+.
Media Company Layoffs in 2025 so Far
Date | Company | Layoffs |
March | Disney (TV division, ABC News) | Approximately 200 (6%) |
January | CNN | Approximately 210 (6%) |
January | Washington Post | Approximately 100 (4%) |
January | Allen Media Group | Approximately 50 (all meteorologists) |
January | Meta | Approximately 3,600 (5%) |
Paramount Cut Staff/ Paramount TV Studios in 2024
Last year, Paramount Television Studios shut down following layoffs that happened early in 2024. The projects planned at Paramount Television were handed over to CBS Studios. Per The Hollywood Reporter, 15% of Paramount’s U.S. workforce was laid off in August 2024 - in addition to the 800 that were let go earlier that year.
Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks said at that time that shutting down Paramount Television Studios “is not a decision based on how PTVS performed. This move is a result of significant changes in the TV and streaming marketplaceand the need to streamline our company.”
PTVS President Nicole Clemens, who helped usher in the streaming era of programming at Paramount, was among those who were let go. Clemens oversaw the development and production of series like Halo, The Offer, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Discovery, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Clemens said in a statement after the cuts were announced: “This has been a challenging and transformative time for the entire industry, and sadly our studio is not immune.”
Source: Variety
Comentarios