Disney Announces Major Layoffs Across Pixar, National Geographic, ESPN and ABC News
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Disney is cutting hundreds of jobs in a significant workforce reduction spanning multiple divisions, with animation studio Pixar, National Geographic, ESPN, and ABC News all impacted. The layoffs disproportionately affected Pixar's production and operations teams, whilst National Geographic and ABC News also experienced substantial staff reductions as part of the company's broader cost restructuring efforts.
The cuts, which represent one of Disney's largest reduction rounds in recent years, align with a wider streamlining initiative by the company's new leadership. High-profile departures include Charlie Parsons, National Geographic's senior vice president of development, who exited the broadcaster after more than 15 years following the announcement.
- Disney eliminates hundreds of positions across Pixar, National Geographic, ESPN and ABC News in a major restructuring
- Pixar's production and operations staff bore the brunt, whilst Nat Geo and ABC News also saw significant cuts
- Long-serving executives departing as part of new leadership's cost-reduction and streamlining strategy
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Disney is one of the world's largest media and entertainment companies, owning a wide range of brands including the Pixar animation studio, the National Geographic broadcaster, the sports network ESPN, and the news division ABC News. These operate as separate teams under the same corporate parent, though they cover very different areas, from children's films to factual documentaries and rolling news.
The company has recently been working through a period of cost-cutting and restructuring under its current leadership, aiming to streamline operations and reduce spending across its many divisions. Media companies more broadly have been adjusting staffing levels in response to changes in how audiences watch television and films, including the shift towards streaming services.
Job losses at a company of Disney's size can affect the types of programmes, films and news coverage produced, as well as the livelihoods of the staff involved, which is why changes like this tend to draw attention across the media industry.
Coverage
- Polygon — Disney lays off 100s of employees, with Pixar hit hard
- Deadline — Nat Geo’s Charlie Parsons Exits After Over 15 Years As Part Of Disney Layoffs