ABC News has been significantly impacted by layoffs and a restructuring of its programming as part of a broader effort to streamline operations.
The layoffs, which began Wednesday, are part of a move to cut nearly 6% of the workforce across both ABC News and Disney Entertainment Networks, which includes the axing of about 200 employees.
Staffers at prominent ABC programs, including "World News Tonight," are among those affected by the cuts.
Almin Karamehmedovic, president of ABC News, addressed the company's restructuring in a memo to employees, stating, "As we've often talked about, streamlining our operation to best serve our viewers and continue to position ourselves as a leading news organization has been a goal for some time."
He acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, noting, "These decisions are incredibly challenging, and today will undoubtedly be difficult for our organization."
In addition to layoffs, the company is dissolving FiveThirtyEight, the political polling site founded by Nate Silver, which has garnered attention for its accurate predictions in the 2008 and 2012 elections.
All 15 staff members at FiveThirtyEight are being let go as part of this cost-cutting initiative, Independent said.
ABC News to lay off dozens, merge ‘Good Morning America’ and ‘GMA3,’ ax ‘538’ data site @nypost pic.twitter.com/oQlCa1bJhA
— Jewhadi™ (@JewhadiTM) March 5, 2025
ABC News Faces Internal Uncertainty and Restructuring Amid TV Decline
Meanwhile, ABC is making changes to its flagship program "Good Morning America" (GMA), consolidating its production teams and combining the show's three hours into one unified unit. Simone Swink, a veteran of GMA since 2010, will oversee all hours of the show.
Disney, which owns ABC, is facing pressure to adapt to a changing media landscape where traditional television is in decline, and the digital shift is gaining ground.
A significant aspect of this shift involves "Good Morning America," which has been struggling to keep pace with NBC's "Today" show in ratings.
According to the NY Post, the network has also dealt with internal turmoil following Disney's defamation lawsuit settlement involving GMA anchor George Stephanopoulos.
Speculation is growing over his potential departure from the show after being forced to apologize publicly for a mistaken statement regarding President Donald Trump.
While ABC and Disney are restructuring to navigate the economic pressures of traditional television, they are also focusing on building a digital future.
However, concerns about the long-term direction of ABC News and the impact of these changes have left many employees uncertain about their futures.
This restructuring comes on the heels of other layoffs at ABC News last fall and is part of a broader trend within the media industry as companies struggle to balance the decline of traditional TV with the demand for more digital content.
ABC's cost-cutting measures, which include a shift in programming and staff reductions, aim to streamline operations and enhance efficiency as the network adapts to these new challenges.
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