In a move aligned with a broader trend affecting traditional media, ABC News, along with the Walt Disney Company’s entertainment divisions, is set to implement a 6% reduction in workforce. This decision, impacting approximately 200 positions, arises from ongoing challenges such as declining ratings and shrinking revenues in the television industry.

Details of the Layoffs

Staff were informed about the upcoming cuts on Wednesday, with the majority affecting ABC News employees based in New York. This latest reduction follows a previous layoff event in October, which resulted in the loss of around 40 jobs at ABC News and additional cuts across Disney’s TV stations.

Rationale Behind the Reductions

Almin Karamehmedovic, president of ABC News, communicated to staff that these measures are part of a strategic effort to streamline operations and adapt to the evolving television landscape. “Rethinking the way we work to future-proof our team regrettably includes reductions to our extraordinary staff,” he stated. “These decisions are incredibly challenging and today will undoubtedly be difficult for our organization.”

Operational Changes and Consolidations

Key operational changes include the consolidation of the production staffs of popular programs like “Good Morning America” and its afternoon counterpart “GMA 3.” Additionally, the teams behind the newsmagazine “20/20” and late-night show “Nightline” will be grouped under the ABC News Studios banner. Furthermore, the data journalism unit, 538, which was acquired from Nate Silver, will be shut down as part of these restructuring efforts.

Competitive Landscape

Despite having been a frontrunner in attracting evening news viewers with its flagship program “ABC World News with David Muir,” the network’s morning show, “Good Morning America,” now lags behind NBC’s “Today” for the first time in seven years. The “Today” show holds a slight lead in overall viewership and a significantly stronger presence among the coveted 25 to 54 age demographics.

Exploration of Streaming News

In response to changing viewer habits, ABC News is also investing in its streaming platform, ABC News Now, which targets younger viewers, although it currently garners only a fraction of the audience compared to traditional broadcasts.