The Walt Disney Company is set to lay off approximately 200 employees—around 6% of the combined workforce at its ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks units—amid ongoing industry shifts.
The Wall Street Journal reported the layoffs on Wednesday, marking another phase in Disney’s restructuring as it adapts to declining cable television viewership and changing consumer habits.
Key divisions affected include ABC’s news magazine programs 20/20 and Nightline, which will merge into a single unit. The company is also shutting down the team behind FiveThirtyEight, its political and data analysis website. Additionally, Good Morning America’s production staff and programming and scheduling operations within Disney Entertainment Networks, which oversees channels like FX, are expected to see cuts.
Disney has not yet publicly commented on the layoffs, and its stock showed little movement in premarket trading. According to WSJ, the newsletter Status first reported the impending cuts at ABC News.
The restructuring reflects broader challenges in the entertainment industry, as traditional cable TV declines due to cord-cutting and the rise of streaming services. Meanwhile, Disney+ has struggled with subscriber losses in recent quarters, despite narrowing its streaming business losses by $300 million in late 2023.