NEW DELHI– The Walt Disney Company is reportedly considering another round of layoffs that could affect thousands of employees as the entertainment giant looks to reduce operating expenses and redirect spending toward key growth businesses.
According to multiple media reports, Disney has asked some managers to identify potential annual cost savings of up to 20%, although the company has not publicly confirmed the scope of the proposed reductions.
The cost-cutting initiative comes as Chief Executive Officer Josh D’Amaro faces mounting challenges across Disney’s entertainment and media operations, including increased competition in streaming, weaker box office performance and slower attendance growth at international theme parks.
The growing adoption of artificial intelligence across the entertainment industry is also contributing to changes in how major media companies evaluate staffing, technology investments and operating costs.
The proposed restructuring is not expected to affect every Disney division equally. Some business units could face more substantial reductions than others as management identifies opportunities to streamline operations.
According to the reports, part of the savings could be reinvested in areas considered important to Disney’s long-term growth, including film and television production, technology, theme parks and the company’s expanding cruise business.
Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment made outside regular business hours, according to the reports.
The company has not disclosed how many positions could ultimately be eliminated or provided a timetable for potential layoffs.
Disney employed approximately 231,000 people at the end of fiscal 2025, making it one of the largest employers in the global entertainment industry.
The latest reported cost-cutting initiative follows several rounds of workforce reductions in recent years as Disney has sought to improve profitability and adjust its operations to changing consumer preferences.
In September, the company reportedly eliminated several hundred positions across its human resources and technology departments.
Disney also reportedly cut approximately 1,000 jobs in April, following additional workforce reductions during 2025.
The company’s broader restructuring efforts began under former Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger, who launched a cost-reduction program that included eliminating approximately 7,000 positions and targeting $5.5 billion in savings.
Those measures were intended to improve efficiency and strengthen Disney’s financial performance as traditional media businesses faced pressure from changing viewing habits and the growth of digital streaming platforms.
The latest potential layoffs would represent another phase in the company’s efforts to control costs while maintaining investment in entertainment content and its theme park and cruise operations.
Disney’s reported plans also reflect a broader trend of workforce reductions across the media and technology industries.
Entertainment companies, including Netflix and Skydance, have pursued staffing reductions as they adjust to shifting market conditions and seek to improve operational efficiency.
Skydance, which acquired Warner Bros. Discovery earlier this year, has also implemented workforce cuts as part of its efforts to manage costs.
Separately, Amazon reportedly eliminated approximately 250 positions in its devices and services division as part of an effort to streamline operations and better align staffing with product development priorities.
According to media reports, affected Amazon employees were notified through early-morning emails and text messages, and the company subsequently confirmed the reductions.
For Disney, the reported restructuring underscores the financial and operational pressures facing major entertainment companies as they balance cost reductions with continued investment in content, technology and consumer experiences. (Source: IANS)
