This marks another month of uncertainty for Disney employees as the entertainment giant continues to reshape its workforce. The Walt Disney Company has begun another round of layoffs, eliminating approximately 300 jobs, primarily in human resources and technology, as new CEO Josh D’Amaro continues to restructure the company. The cuts are expected to take place over several days, Deadline reported. And the workforce reductions may not end there. Separately, Disney is planning a significant restructuring of its television operations that could result in hundreds of additional layoffs and the consolidation of divisions. Also read: Microsoft cuts hundreds more jobs as restructuring deepens. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the TV overhaul, citing people familiar with the matter. Top executives are still working out the details of that plan, which may not be finalized until the end of the year. The two developments are separate, but together they put hundreds more Disney jobs at risk or already in the process of being eliminated. Disney’s television business faces another overhaul Disney Entertainment Television president Debra O’Connell is leading the planned restructuring, according to The Wall Street Journal. The changes are aimed at organizing Disney’s television operations more around its streaming customers than around individual brands developed during the traditional era of linear television. More layoffs: Executives overseeing ABC Entertainment, 20th Television, Hulu Originals and Freeform are among those expected to be affected by the changes, according to the report. The restructuring comes as Disney increasingly places streaming at the center of its entertainment strategy. On the company’s latest earnings conference call in August, D’Amaro said that during his first five months as CEO, he had focused on making Disney “execute as one company around a unified strategy.” He described the company’s “One Disney” operating model as a way to connect its businesses more closely and capture more value across its portfolio. Disney is also moving Disney+ toward what D’Amaro called the “digital centerpiece” of its relationship with customers and has been working to integrate Hulu more deeply into the platform. But that strategy is developing as the economics of traditional television come under increasing pressure. Cord cutting continues to shrink cable and broadcasting businesses that historically generated substantial profits for media companies. The story continues And if the data is any indication, I’m not the only one changing the way I watch TV. About 83% of American adults now watch streaming services, compared to just 36% who subscribe to cable or satellite TV at home, according to the Pew Research Center. Furthermore, 55% stream without also subscribing to cable or satellite. Disney is not the only traditional television company facing that change. Broadcasters and station owners have also sought consolidation and restructuring as the industry adapts to changes in viewing habits, a trend I’ve previously covered through developments involving Tegna and EW Scripps. Disney cuts more jobs in third round of layoffs this year. Gary Hershorn / Getty Images Disney signals more cost reductions are coming Disney management had already indicated that cutting expenses, including labor costs, remained part of its strategy. During the August earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston said the company was focused on improving productivity and efficiency to redirect resources toward growth. More importantly for employees, Johnston said work was ongoing as Disney sought “significant cost reductions, including labor and selling, general and administrative expenses.” D’Amaro also said that Disney wants to operate in a more integrated way, with greater speed, discipline and efficiency. He argues that working more profitably would free up capital to invest in content, technology and new guest experiences. However, on a recent visit to Disneyland in California, I was reminded that maintaining the existing guest experience is also important. I found myself stuck aboard Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and then waiting for technical issues affecting the Little Mermaid attraction. For guests paying Disney’s increasingly high prices, investing in its parks is not just about what comes next, but also about keeping what’s already there running smoothly. Disney’s layoffs have spread throughout the company. The latest roughly 300 cuts continue a series of staff reductions since D’Amaro became CEO in March. Disney has cut more than 1,500 jobs in three rounds of layoffs, including about 1,000 jobs in April, several hundred more in July and about 300 in the latest round. Hundreds more jobs could be at risk as Disney separately works on a restructuring of its television business. In April, Disney eliminated approximately positions in areas including marketing, studios, television, ESPN, products, technology and corporate functions. Disney followed those cuts with another round in July that affected several hundred employees at Pixar, ESPN, Disney Entertainment Television, National Geographic and other parts of the company. These reductions also come as Disney works to bring Hulu and Disney+ closer together and reorganize around a more unified digital entertainment business. Related: Home Depot’s beloved 43-year-old rival hardware chain closes. This story was originally published by TheStreet on October 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Employment section. Add TheStreet as a preferred source by clicking here.
