Disney plans TV restructuring with hundreds of layoffs, WSJ reports

October 2, 2026 at 12:23 AM2 min

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Walt Disney Co. is planning a restructuring of its television operations that is expected to result in hundreds of layoffs and consolidation of divisions, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter. Senior executives are still working out details of the plan, which may not be finalized before year-end. The move extends a wave of job cuts under CEO Josh D'Amaro, who has already eliminated 1,000 positions since taking over in March.

Key Facts

Disney's planned TV restructuring is expected to result in hundreds of layoffs and consolidation of divisions, according to people familiar with the matter.
CEO Josh D'Amaro has already cut 1,000 companywide positions since taking over in March 2026.
On Tuesday, Disney laid off more than 300 people, most in human resources and information technology.
Disney chief legal and global affairs officer Horacio Gutierrez told staff his team 'will be a much smaller organization than it is today,' citing automation advances.
Disney Entertainment Television chairman Debra OConnell is spearheading the TV restructuring plan, which includes ABC Entertainment, 20th Television, Hulu Originals, Disney Kids & Family, National Geographic Content and Freeform.

TV Restructuring Plan

Disney is planning a restructuring of its television operation that is expected to result in hundreds of layoffs and the consolidation of divisions, according to people familiar with the matter. Senior executives are currently working out details of the plan, which might not be finalized before the end of the year. Disney Entertainment Television chairman Debra OConnell, who reports to President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden, is spearheading the plan. A primary goal is to structure the business around streaming customers rather than around brands created decades ago for linear television, one knowledgeable person said.

Ongoing Job Cuts

Layoffs have already hit marketing, Pixar, ABC News and ESPN. On Tuesday, Disney laid off more than 300 people, most of whom work in human resources and information technology. Cuts are also in the works at Disney's legal and global affairs unit, which has about 1,000 employees. In a memo to staff, Disney chief legal and global affairs officer Horacio Gutierrez said his team 'will be a much smaller organization than it is today,' citing advances in automation.

CEO Streamlining Strategy

CEO Josh D'Amaro has sought to streamline a sprawling operation full of fiefdoms since taking over in March. He began cutting 1,000 companywide positions soon after he took the reins. Last month, D'Amaro elevated former YouTube executive Adam Smith to chairman of streaming and named Silicon Valley veteran Karandeep Anand as Disney's chief technology officer. In August, Disney launched a voluntary early-retirement initiative targeting executives over age 50 with at least 10 years of experience.