LOS ANGELES — Nearly 200 employees will be leaving The Walt Disney Co. as part of a reduction-in-force initiative that has impacted ABC News and has led to the closure of political polling website 538.
A person with knowledge of the situation noted that some 6% of ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks employees are losing their jobs as part of the effort. Many are based in New York.
For those who regularly follow major political races, the end of the 538 brand could come as a surprise.
Meanwhile, the ABC newsmagazines “20/20,” “Nightline” and “Impact x Nightline” will be consolidating their production and operations, Disney says.
News of the job cuts first surfaced late Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal, in the digital newsletter Status and via e-mails received by RBR+TVBR from at least one impacted employee, who requested anonymity. This communication confirmed the WSJ report that all three hours of “Good Morning America” programming will now be led by one person; the third hour had enjoyed its own unique production team.
Some program planning and scheduling positions are also being eliminated; these largely involve Disney’s cable television networks.
A source close to the matter confirmed the reduction-in-force initiative on Wednesday afternoon.
