Disney plans further workforce reductions to cut operational costs
Disney is preparing to cut thousands of jobs and mandate 20% cost reductions for select departments as it navigates a shifting media landscape.
Disney is initiating a new round of cost-cutting measures, including staff reductions across multiple divisions. Sources indicate that select management teams have been directed to reduce annual expenses by 20% to stabilize the company's financial performance.
The strategic shift follows a broader trend in the entertainment industry, as companies like Netflix, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery similarly reduce payrolls to offset declining traditional television revenue. Disney's leadership, including experiences chairman Josh D'Amaro, aims to reallocate saved capital toward content production, technology research, and the expansion of its theme park and cruise segments.
This move comes as Disney seeks to meet its commitment of double-digit adjusted earnings-per-share growth for the current fiscal year. With 231,000 employees globally as of the last fiscal year-end, the company has undergone recurring restructuring phases that have impacted divisions ranging from ESPN and Pixar to its legal and global affairs departments.
Industry analysts note that traditional media firms remain under pressure as audiences increasingly migrate toward social media platforms and large-scale tech-backed streaming services. Disney executive Dana Walden noted recently that the company must continually evaluate its organizational structure to remain competitive against technology-focused entrants in the media sector.