Disney cuts hundreds more jobs as restructuring reaches ESPN, Pixar and Nat Geo

LOS ANGELES: The magic kingdom is tightening its belt once again. The Walt Disney Company has launched another round of layoffs, eliminating several hundred jobs across its television, sports and film businesses as it continues a sweeping restructuring under its “One Disney” strategy.

Employees began receiving notifications on Tuesday, marking the third round of layoffs this year as the entertainment giant streamlines operations and reshapes its workforce.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the latest cuts span corporate functions as well as divisions including ESPN, Disney Entertainment Television (DET) and the company’s film studios. While the number of affected employees is smaller than the restructuring announced in April, the reductions underscore Disney’s continued focus on simplifying its organisation and improving operational efficiency.

Within Disney Entertainment Television, nearly 100 positions are being eliminated, with the largest share falling at National Geographic. The layoffs affect staff across the cable network, editorial operations and other business functions. Around 12 positions are also being cut at ABC News, alongside reductions in other DET teams.

Pixar Animation Studios is also among the divisions facing significant workforce reductions. The studio is trimming staff across production and operational roles, with layoffs expected to represent a high single-digit percentage of its workforce of roughly 1,100 employees. Senior executives are not believed to be among those affected.

The move comes despite Pixar enjoying a strong year at the box office with releases including Hoppers and Toy Story 5.

At ESPN, the workforce reductions are largely linked to the integration of NFL Network assets acquired earlier this year. The changes affect both behind-the-scenes employees and on-air talent, including veteran broadcaster Karl Ravech and football analyst Ryan Clark.

In a memo to employees, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said the company had reviewed its organisational structure following the NFL integration.

Pitaro said ESPN had made significant progress incorporating the acquired assets over recent months, but the review had also led to “some difficult decisions” on staffing. He added that affected employees would be treated with compassion and supported throughout the transition.

The latest restructuring follows earlier organisational changes this year. In January, Disney consolidated its global marketing operations under The Walt Disney Company chief brand officer Asad Ayaz, a move that also resulted in job reductions. A further restructuring announced in April affected around 1,000 employees across the company.

While Disney has not disclosed the total number of roles eliminated in the latest round, the continued workforce reductions highlight the company’s effort to build a leaner organisation as it balances traditional media operations with its long-term focus on streaming, technology and digital growth.