Disney begins 1,000 job cuts this week across the company

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The Walt Disney Co.has begun a broad round of layoffs that is expected to result in 1,000 jobs being cut across multiple divisions within the Burbank entertainment giant.The layoffs, which began Tuesday, will ripple across Disney’s television and movie studios, sports giant ESPN, its product and technology unit, corporate functions and marketing, according to a person familiar with the retrenchment but not authorized to comment.

Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro notified Disney staff members about the looming cuts on Tuesday morning.In the message, viewed by The Times, D’Amaro acknowledged the elimination of roles was difficult — but called it necessary.

“Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs,” D’Amaro wrote in the note.“We will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company and have begun notifying impacted employees.”The move follows Disney’s announcement in January that it would consolidate its marketing division.

But the cuts are hitting other corners of the company, too.The traditional television business, which has been reeling from the steady erosion of what was once an economic pillar — programming fees from ESPN, Disney Channel and other popular outlets — will reduce its head count.

Consumers have drifted to streaming services, which offer leaner profits and a more fickle customer base.“Over the past several months, we have looked at ways in which we can streamline our operations in various parts of the company to ensure we deliver the world-class creativity and innovation our fans value and expect from Disney,” D’Amaro said in the note.The cost cutting is one of the first major moves since D’Amaro became chief executive last month.

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