ABC News, which is known for programs like “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight,” and “The View,” is reportedly experiencing around 12 job cuts. This comes amid substantial layoffs initiated by its parent company, Disney, according to a source affiliated with the network.
On Tuesday, Disney’s leadership announced that these layoffs are part of a plan to “streamline” the organization, aiming to better navigate the volatile media landscape. Interestingly, it seems the company is cutting about 1,000 positions, particularly affecting its integrated marketing division, overseen by Asad Ayaz. Other departments facing reductions include studios, television operations, ESPN, product and technology sectors, as well as some corporate roles.
Josh D’Amaro, the newly appointed Disney CEO who took over from Bob Iger in February, expressed the urgency behind these changes. “We’ve been exploring methods to enhance efficiency across various departments to ensure we deliver the kind of world-class creativity our fans expect from Disney,” he mentioned in a statement to employees.
He continued, “Considering the rapid shifts in our industry, we constantly need to reassess how to cultivate a more agile, tech-focused workforce to meet future demands. Thus, we’ve begun notifying affected employees about their job eliminations.” This move comes as D’Amaro faces challenges within the company, including some discontent regarding leadership changes, like the promotion of Dana Walden to president and chief creative officer.
Interestingly, just last month, Walden elevated Debra O’Connell—an ABC News colleague—to the newly established position of chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, giving her significant control over the company’s TV operations. However, this new team has faced some bumps in the road. ABC is still dealing with the fallout from “The Bachelorette” not performing as expected and a stalled partnership with OpenAI.
Notably, this partnership, which included a hefty $1 billion investment from Disney, has ended shortly after the introduction of OpenAI’s Sora video generator. Meanwhile, D’Amaro’s $1.5 billion venture into Epic Games is also under scrutiny, especially after the gaming giant announced 1,000 layoffs in response to disappointing reactions to a new Fortnite game.
