Disney Cuts Hundreds of Jobs Amid Strategic Overhaul

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) is laying off several hundred employees across its film, television, and corporate finance divisions, according to a source familiar with the matter. The move comes as the media giant continues its broad transformation in response to the streaming-first landscape and shifting audience behaviors.

Who's Affected?

The layoffs reportedly span:

• Film and TV marketing

• TV publicity

• Casting and development

• Corporate finance teams worldwide

This is part of a wider restructuring plan that began in 2023, when Disney slashed 7,000 jobs to cut $5.5 billion in costs. Earlier in March 2025, the company also laid off fewer than 200 employees across ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks—roughly 6% of those units.

Streaming and Parks Drive Resilience

Despite the internal restructuring, Disney's financial results remain robust:

• Disney+ posted unexpected growth in the latest earnings report

• Theme parks delivered strong results, boosting overall company performance

• The stock is up 21% since the earnings release, although it dipped slightly 0.3% to $112.62 on Monday

A Structural Reset, Not a Signal of Weakness

While layoffs may appear alarming, they are part of a broader effort to streamline operations and realign priorities:

• Disney is optimizing operations to compete more aggressively in streaming

• The company is shifting resources from legacy TV businesses toward digital-first strategies

For investors analyzing Disney's transition and operational health, key insights can be found using the Ratios (TTM) API to evaluate trends in efficiency, profitability, and debt. Additionally, historical workforce and cost trends are accessible via the Full Financial as Reported API.

As Disney leans into streaming and pares back legacy units, these layoffs reflect a calculated shift—not a crisis. The next chapters will be shaped by how well the company executes in digital entertainment.