Disney’s television empire faces a sweeping reorganization that could eliminate hundreds of positions, marking another aggressive cost-cutting move under its new leadership.
The restructuring plan, still being shaped by senior executives, would merge multiple TV divisions into a unified operation. While final decisions may not land until year’s end, the direction signals a fundamental shift in how the entertainment giant manages its broadcast and streaming assets.
CEO Josh D’Amaro, who took the helm in March after running the parks business, has already overseen waves of layoffs across marketing, Pixar, ABC News, and ESPN. Tuesday alone brought more than 300 job cuts, concentrated in human resources and information technology. The legal and global affairs unit, employing roughly 1,000 people, faces reductions as well. Chief legal officer Horacio Gutierrez told staff that automation would enable a “much compacter organization.”
A central driver behind the TV overhaul: organizing the business around streaming audiences rather than legacy broadcast brands. Disney President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden articulated the strategy Thursday at a Bloomberg conference in Los Angeles, describing a move toward “centralizing as a television business, not a bunch of silos.” She stressed the need to “constantly evaluate” structure and organizational size.
Debra OConnell, Disney Entertainment Chairman, leads the consolidation effort. Her portfolio already spans ABC Entertainment, 20th Television, Hulu Originals, Disney Kids & Family, National Geographic Content, and Freeform. The reorganization will likely affect the executives running those units.
Meanwhile, ABC News finds itself under the same pressure. The division, also under OConnell’s purview, faces expected layoffs. Its flagship morning program “Good Morning America” lost its top ratings spot to NBC’s “Today” after 14 years. A shakeup there appears increasingly likely.
Neither Disney nor ABC News responded to requests for comment.
