Disney to Cut Hundreds of Jobs During Television Division Restructuring

The Walt Disney Company is consolidating its television operations into a unified structure. This shift is expected to result in hundreds of job cuts as the media company pivots toward a streaming-first business model. The reorganization aims to dismantle legacy silos that previously managed linear and digital content separately, while streamlining management to support platforms like Disney+ and Hulu.

"We will be taking a bunch of divisions that have been run separately and centralizing as a television business, not a bunch of silos," said Dana Walden, Disney President and Chief Creative Officer.

Moving Beyond Legacy Silos

Historically, Disney operated its television business through fragmented units, maintaining distinct teams for broadcast, cable, and streaming production. By centralizing these functions, the company intends to reduce operational redundancy and accelerate content delivery for its direct-to-consumer services. The initiative is led by Debra O'Connell, Chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, with final implementation timelines projected to extend through the end of 2026.

"There is a need to constantly evaluate how you’re structured and how big is the organization," said Dana Walden, Disney President and Chief Creative Officer.

Scaling Back Workforce

This latest round of layoffs continues a trend of workforce reductions at Disney throughout the fiscal year. According to a report from Investing.com, the company has already eliminated more than 1,500 positions in 2026. This total includes a reduction of over 300 employees within the human resources and IT departments that occurred on September 30.

Strategic Pivot to Streaming

The restructuring reflects the transition within the media industry, where traditional linear television revenue continues to decline in favor of subscription-based streaming. Centralizing the television business allows Disney to optimize its creative and production resources. This ensures that content development aligns with the data-driven demands of its streaming audiences rather than the scheduling requirements of traditional broadcast networks. By removing administrative layers, the company seeks to improve its margin profile while competing for viewer engagement.