The Walt Disney Company is laying off several hundred employees worldwide, starting Monday, in its latest round of job cuts aimed at slashing costs. According to Deadline, the layoffs primarily affect Disney Entertainment and corporate financial departments, including marketing, filming, casting, and development.
Most of the affected Disney Entertainment Television staff are reportedly based in Los Angeles, although no teams are being entirely eliminated. This marks the fourth round of layoffs since mid-2024, part of a broader cost-cutting strategy under CEO Bob Iger’s leadership. Iger, who returned as CEO in 2023, set a goal to cut $7.5 billion in costs, which led to 7,000 job cuts last year alone.
Disney’s March layoffs saw around 200 employees—6% of ABC News’ workforce—let go, following the 2023 closure of ABC Signature and its absorption into 20th Television. While the company posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings thanks to sports and its theme park divisions, the entertainment giant continues to streamline operations.
Disney’s layoffs coincide with a broader industry trend, as NBCUniversal recently laid off staff and reorganized its cable networks under a new company, Versant. Industry insiders expect more consolidation and cost-cutting across media giants as they face ongoing economic pressures.
Disney’s latest cuts come amid growing uncertainty in the entertainment industry, as legacy media companies struggle to adapt to the shifting landscape of streaming, rising production costs, and softening advertising revenue. Disney has faced particular pressure to boost profitability in its streaming division, Disney+, which has yet to turn a profit despite significant subscriber growth.
CEO Bob Iger’s cost-cutting push also reflects the company’s pivot toward its most reliable revenue drivers, namely theme parks and experiences. Last year, Iger emphasized the importance of “experience selling” in Disney’s business model, highlighting the potential for theme parks, cruises, and immersive offerings to deliver stable profits. However, as these areas thrive, Disney’s entertainment and media divisions continue to face pressure, leading to job cuts as the company attempts to rebalance its portfolio.
The layoffs also signal a shift in how Disney prioritizes its projects. While no teams are being completely dissolved, the entertainment powerhouse appears to be scaling back on content development as it focuses on high-performing franchises and proven brands. The changes underscore a growing trend among media giants to reduce headcount and slim down operations in an increasingly volatile market.
