Disney Crisis: Hundreds of Employees Laid Off to Address the Decline of Traditional Television

Disney has launched a new round of layoffs involving hundreds of workers in the U.S. and abroad amid a fight for survival amid the decline of traditional television, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

The staff cuts, for which a specific number was not specified, will primarily affect the marketing, film and television, television advertising, casting and development teams, as well as corporate financial operations, according to people close to the entertainment giant, who spoke to the American newspaper.

This would be the fourth and largest round of layoffs in the last 10 months affecting several Disney television operations , according to the specialized media outlet Deadline. At the end of July 2024, the American entertainment giant announced the layoff of 140 employees from its television division, representing 2% of its workforce.

Pixar, owned by Walt Disney, announced in May of last year the layoff of 175 workers, 14% of its workforce. It marked the most radical restructuring in the history of the studio, co-founded by the late Steve Jobs and purchased by Disney in 2006.

These cuts were made with the intention of reducing the production of television series content for the platform and focusing more on the screening of feature films in theaters.

In December 2024, Disney Channel confirmed its closure in several countries as part of a strategy to focus its efforts on Disney+, a platform that will host productions previously seen on traditional television. This is due to the impact that entertainment and television have suffered in recent years.

"We appreciate the support of our fans in Spain, who will be able to continue watching their favorite shows through the platform," The Walt Disney Company, the channel's owner, told Spanish media outlet ABC. This decision will also affect other channels in the group, such as Star Channel and FX.

According to data from Kantar Media, Disney Channel viewership in Colombia is between 0.6% and 0.9%, reflecting a low rating similar to that of other countries. Disney Channel has been one of the most popular channels for children and adolescents since its creation in 1998.

It's worth noting that the channel's series and production content will be transferred to the Disney+ platform, the company's streaming platform.