Disney Restructures by Laying Off Hundreds Amid Industry Shift

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has announced the layoff of several hundred employees across its film, television, and corporate finance sectors. This decision aligns with the company’s ongoing transformation to adapt to a streaming-first landscape and changes in audience behavior.

Departments Impacted

The layoffs involve staff across:

• Film and TV marketing

• TV publicity

• Casting and development

• Corporate finance teams globally

This is part of a broader restructuring process initiated in 2023, which included 7,000 job cuts aimed at reducing costs by $5.5 billion. Earlier in March 2025, Disney had also trimmed its workforce by fewer than 200 in ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, representing approximately 6% of those sectors.

Resilience: Streaming and Parks Perform Well

Despite internal shifts, Disney reports solid financial results:

• Disney+ experienced unexpected growth in the latest earnings report

• Theme parks showcased strong performance, enhancing the overall company results

• Although stock slipped 0.3% to $112.62 on Monday, it remains up 21% since the earnings announcement

Restructuring as a Path Forward

Although layoffs might ring alarm bells, they form a crucial part of a strategy aimed at streamlining operations:

• Disney aims to enhance its capabilities to compete in the streaming arena

• The focus is shifting from legacy TV operations to digital-first strategies

For investors monitoring Disney’s transition, insights from the Ratios (TTM) API can be useful for evaluating efficiency and profitability trends. Additionally, historical workforce and cost structures can be assessed through the Full Financial as Reported API.

As Disney pivots towards streaming and trims legacy units, these layoffs signify a calculated shift rather than panic. The upcoming chapters will depend on Disney’s success in digital entertainment.