Disney to cut hundreds more jobs in fresh restructuring drive
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Disney has cut hundreds more jobs across the company as part of an ongoing corporate restructuring under chief executive Josh D'Amaro, with the reductions spanning corporate functions, ESPN, Disney Entertainment Television and its film studios. Pixar is understood to be the worst-hit studio despite releasing two films this year, including the successful Toy Story 5, while National Geographic bore the brunt of the cuts within Disney Entertainment Television. The move underscores how the entertainment giant continues to overhaul its structure amid rapid technological change in the industry.
The cuts included some prominent on-air figures at ESPN, such as longtime SportsCenter anchor Karl Ravech and football analyst Ryan Clark, though the network said most affected roles were behind-the-scenes positions tied to its recent acquisition of the NFL Network. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro told staff in a memo that the network had "carefully evaluated" its teams and resources following the integration, while affected employees were notified on the day the cuts were announced. This marked the third round of Disney layoffs this year, following changes to marketing structures in January and a larger restructuring affecting around 1,000 employees in April, as D'Amaro pushes his "One Disney" reorganisation to make the company more agile.
- Disney cuts hundreds of jobs across Pixar, ESPN and Nat Geo
- Third restructuring round this year under CEO Josh D'Amaro
- ESPN cuts tied largely to its NFL Network acquisition
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Disney is one of the world's biggest entertainment companies, owning film studios such as Pixar, the ESPN sports network, National Geographic and other television brands. Under chief executive Josh D'Amaro, the firm has been reorganising itself over the past year under a plan known as "One Disney", aimed at making the sprawling business simpler and more responsive as streaming, cord-cutting and other technological shifts reshape the media industry.
These latest cuts are the third round of layoffs at Disney this year, following changes to its marketing operations in January and a larger reduction affecting around 1,000 staff in April. They touch several parts of the company at once, including corporate departments, ESPN, its entertainment television arm and its film studios, reflecting how the restructuring has been rolling out gradually rather than in one single event.
ESPN's cuts are partly linked to its recent acquisition of the NFL Network, which has meant absorbing new staff and functions while trimming others, including some well-known on-screen presenters. The wider pattern of repeated layoffs matters because it signals how major entertainment companies are adjusting their workforces and cost structures in response to changing viewing habits, even while some divisions, such as Pixar, continue to release commercially successful films.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the restructuring would argue that Disney operates in a fast-changing media landscape where streaming has upended traditional television and film economics, making it necessary to trim costs and integrate new assets such as the NFL Network efficiently. They would contend that even successful units, including Pixar and National Geographic, cannot be shielded indefinitely if the wider group is to remain financially disciplined and fund future productions and technology investment. From this perspective, a leaner, more agile "One Disney" structure under Josh D'Amaro is a prudent, forward-looking response to industry change rather than a sign of failure.
The case against
Critics would argue that a third round of layoffs within a single year, hitting profitable units like Pixar despite the success of Toy Story 5, undermines the claim that cuts are driven purely by performance or necessity, and instead reflects short-term cost-cutting at the expense of creative and journalistic capacity. They might point to the manner of the cuts, with affected staff notified the same day the changes were announced, as evidence that efficiency is being prioritised over consideration for long-serving employees and respected on-air figures. They would also warn that repeatedly thinning specialist teams, such as those at National Geographic, risks eroding institutional knowledge and quality in ways that are hard to reverse once lost.
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “Disney Cutting Hundreds More Jobs In New Round of Corporate Streamlining”.