Disney Finally Makes Its Cuts: 200 Fired at ABC, 200 at ESPN
by Peter Kafka
Posted on January 29, 2009 at 3:43 PM PT
The only thing surprising about Disney’s layoffs is that they didn’t happen until now. But everyone has been expecting cuts at Disney (DIS) and its operating units for quite some time–Barclays analyst Anthony DiClemente pegged it in December.
Now the layoffs are here: ABC is firing 200 people and leaving another 200 positions vacant, which amounts to an overall workforce reduction of five percent. Meanwhile cable powerhouse ESPN is cutting 200 jobs of its own.
There’s little detail about who was cut where, though I think I should be able run down one detail fairly soon; in the meantime if you want to offer up more info I’m happy to collect it. You can reach me directly at peter@allthingsd.com. If you want to be completely anonymous, which is understandable, but less useful to me (I won’t have any way of reaching you for follow-up) you can use the blind tip box here.
