Disney’s Layoffs Point To A Shift In Streaming

Amid Disney’s widespread company layoffs, the company has fired several high-ranking executives in its streaming division.

Just this week, Jerrell Jimerson, Sean Curtis and Jaya Kolhatkar, who held product, technology in data leadership in Disney’s streaming unit were laid off.

Photo: Variety

Teams responsible for the streaming division’s marketing and business development were also hit hard.

Part of a Larger Shift

This series of layoffs seems to be pointing to a larger shift in Disney’s streaming strategy.

Under former CEO Bob Chapek, Disney used subscriber count as its bellwether for streaming success. The division’s lack of profitability however, contributed to the company’s paltry earnings report that eventually led to Chapek’s ouster.

Photo: CNBC

While Disney’s 7,000 job cuts have impacted every division of the company, they have been particularly acute in streaming.

A New Organization

Part of Bob Iger’s plan to increase Disney’s profitability has been to adjust how Disney measures streaming success.

Source: techhive.com

Under Chapek, authority was given to executives who were focused on streaming and business. Iger on the other hand has shifted power back to Disney’s creative leaders.

Iger’s restructuring, quickly led to the exit of technology executive Michael Paull and technology officer Jeremy Doing.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Disney+ has been operating for less than four years, nevertheless the team that brought the streaming platform to market is largely gone.

In December 2020, Disney hosted an investor day to showcase its upcoming programming. Six of the seven executives that spoke at the event have since left the company.

Photo: Disney

Whether these changes prove to be good or bad remains to be seen. What is clear however, is that it is a new day for Disney streaming.