Warner Bros. Discovery’s Job Cuts Signal Linear TV’s Struggle to Survive

Published: June 6, 2025

dmitry-kropachev-UVlLL0DksEQ-unsplash — Photo from Dmitry Kropachev via Unsplash

By India McCarty

Warner Bros. Discovery just cut dozens of jobs across its linear networks in an effort to operate more efficiently.

“The layoffs affect well under 100 employees,” per Variety’s source, and did not affect any particular network more than others.

WBD hasn’t disclosed the specific networks that were impacted by the layoffs, but its linear networks include TNT, TBS, CNN, Food Network, Discovery, TLC, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.

Variety reported that these job cuts are “aimed at WBD’s ongoing goal of operating more efficiently.”

Warner Bros. Discovery Lays Off Staffers Across Cable Channels https://t.co/85AuBOvqFA

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 4, 2025

In the first quarter of 2025, WBD’s global linear television networks business dropped 7%, to $4.7 billion. Ad revenue fell as well — 12% — while distribution revenue dropped by 9%. Adjusted operating income for Warner Bros. Discovery dropped 15% year over year, which translates to $1.79 billion.

Last month, S&P Global Ratings put WBD’s credit rating at “junk” status, due to their low earnings forecast for 2025-26, as well as “continued revenue and cash flow declines at its linear TV operations.”

Disney also just had a round of layoffs, per Variety, aimed at “those that handle marketing for both film and TV, publicity, casting and development as well as corporate financial operations.”

Like WBD, Disney stated the job cuts were made in an effort to enhance efficiency at the company. They made similar cuts in March of this year, letting go of about 6% of Disney Entertainment Networks and ABC News staffers

Warner Bros. Discovery’s layoffs aren’t too surprising; the studio has been working on reorganizing the studio and its offerings. In December 2024, they started making efforts to spin their cable channels off from the studio and streaming operations.

“We continue to prioritize ensuring our global linear networks business is well positioned to continue to drive free cash flow, while our streaming and studios business focuses on driving growth by telling the world’s most compelling stories,” WBD president and CEO David Zaslav said at the time, via The Hollywood Reporter.

Zaslav added that the new structure “better aligns our organization and enhances our flexibility with potential future strategic opportunities across an evolving media landscape, help us build on our momentum and create opportunities as we evaluate all avenues to deliver significant shareholder value.”

These layoffs are an indicator of how traditional movie and TV studios are still struggling to figure out their place in the world of streaming.

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