List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs So Far In 2024: From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN

After the COVID-19 pandemic, two strikes in Hollywood and with the impact of streaming and the advent of A.I, the media landscape has continued to shift and consolidate, as Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav predicted at the 2024 Allen & Co. Sun Valley Retreat.

Zaslav knows whereof he speaks, with his own company undergoing successive waves of post-merger layoffs over the past two years, the most recent coming in May of this year when the company closed its TV and streaming service Newshub in New Zealand. More than 300 jobs were lost.

Paramount likewise targeted a 3% reduction in its global headcount earlier this year, with additional synergies likely if the Skydance deal closes.

The Fourth Estate has been hit hard. Politico’s estimate counts over 500 journalist layoffs this year alone. That largely began in January with the Los Angeles Times cutting more than 20% of its newsroom. Shortly after that, Time underwent layoffs as well, cutting 15% of its newsroom, according to CNN.

As the unfortunate trend looks to pick up as the entertainment industry still recovers from an avalanche of compounding factors, Deadline aims to keep track of changes. They are listed chronologically from newest to oldest below.

TelevisaUnivision

Another traditional media company affected by cord-cutting, will lay off several hundred workers in a restructuring move.

NowThis

According to a statement from the WGA East, “13 of the 21 remaining NowThis WGAE members were laid off immediately upon receipt of an email notice. The layoffs eliminated 3 of 4 members of the publishing team, 3 of 4 video editors, 3 of 7 Producers and Senior Producers, the sole Senior Motion Graphics Designer, the sole Senior Writer, the sole Senior Insights Analyst, and the sole Audience Strategist. The barebones group of remaining salaried workers at NowThis will now be forced to meet tight deadlines and increasing pressure without proper teams to support them.” 

Lionsgate

Lionsgate Alternative Television’s unscripted TV arm underwent layoffs Nov. 20 at eOne’s U.S. label.

RELATED: Lionsgate Admits Unscripted TV Division Is “Feeling The Effects Of A Continuing Market Correction”

The Associated Press

The Associated Press announced plans to offer buyouts Nov. 18, impacting about 8% of its workforce, the latest mainstream news organization to grapple with cost cutting.

The CW

The CW began undergoing layoffs Nov. 12. As. many as 35 people were affected, and scripted PR was hit the hardest.

CAA

CAA began reducing staff by an anticipated 20-30 people in early November after beginning the evaluations and reviews that would dictate who gets let go.

SK Global

The independent studio behind Anyone But You and Crazy Rich Asians went through layoffs in November with less than 20 employees affected by the cuts.

UTA

The agency began cutting employees in its talent department, production group, unscripted division and endorsements and licensing.

ABC News

ABC News went through a round of layoffs early in October 2024, which affected 75 employees across ABC-owned stations. The job reductions are split evenly between the two divisions, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Disney

Disney went through another wave of layoffs that affected around 300 people across corporate, legal, finance, communications and HR. Parks, ESPN and Disney Entertainment Television are safe for now. This followed a round of layoffs at the end of July.

ABC Signature has been folded into 20th Television under President Karey Burke with ABC and Hulu Originals scripted drama and comedy teams merging under ABC/Freeform EVP Simran Sethi, who is know President of Scripted Programming for Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment.

RELATED: Disney Entertainment Television Consolidates Casting Of ABC-Hulu-Onyx & 20th TV-ABC Signature

Tracy Underwood stepped down as President of ABC Signature and took an overall producing deal with Disney Television Studios. SVP Erin Wehrenberg, ABC’s Head of Comedy, also stepped down.

The layoffs at Disney Entertainment Television affected 140 people, around 2% of the workforce. National Geographic was the hardest hit with abut 60 people let go, making up 13% of its staff.

Animation studio Pixar reduced 14% of its staff, around 175 employees affected, in May.

Paramount Global

Co-CEO of Paramount Global Chris McCarthy confirmed a second round of layoffs heading for 15% of the entertainment company’s States-side staff. The cuts were made to Paramount Television Studios as the production company was shuttered all together in August.

In September, veteran Tina Koyanagi-Rosener and eight of her colleagues who worked on content strategy were laid off as part of the forecast 15 % cut.

RELATED: Nickelodeon Marketing Exec Sabrina Caluori Exiting Ahead Of Broader Paramount Layoffs

The studio downsized in February with the departure of several key executives who left. The move impacted over 800 employees.

A+E Networks

A+E Networks underwent layoffs in August with cuts to the Lifetime and the History Channel’s programming teams. SVP of Unscripted Development and Programming at Lifetime Amy Savitsky as well as VPs Kim Chessler and Cat Rodriguez were affected as well as A&E’s Peter Tarshis and Zach Behr, VP of Unscripted Programming for History.

Merit Street Media

Dr. Phil McGraw’s news and entertainment network Merit Street media laid off nearly a third of its employees at the beginning of August. The company was partnered with Christian-based Trinity Broadcasting for distribution.

Hearst’s Very Local Streaming Service

Hearst Television let go dozens of employees in early August, Deadline exclusively reported.

RELATED: Paramount+’s Communications Team Dissolved As Layoffs Hit Streamer Hard

Fox Entertainment

Fox Media has undergone staff reductions, cutting 30 employees in July.

The layoffs involve employees across all three divisions, the first two headed by Michael Thorn (network) and Fernando Szew (studios). The search for a new head of worldwide content sales is ongoing, with Tony Vassiliadis leading the team in the interim.

Lifted Entertainment

TheITV Studios-owned production company, which produces Love Island had 15 to 20 roles come under scrutiny. The number represents around 10% of the circa-160-staff Lifted Entertainment operation.

Warner Bros. Discovery

The company has begun another round of layoffs across production, business affairs and finance. This comes a year after a round of layoffs that led to the departure of a number of network executives in its cable business.

Entertainment Tonight

As reported by TheWrap, Entertainment Tonight revealed a round of layoffs that would impact the news desk in TV and editorial departments. The layoffs will take place Sept. 7 ahead of Season 44.

RELATED: CNN To Reduce Staff By About 100 As CEO Unveils New Details Of “One Newsroom” Strategy; Layoffs Include Media Critic Brian Lowry — Update