Disney's Streaming Shake-Up: Streamlining for the Future

Disney's television units are undergoing a major reorganization, as the media giant announced the closure of its ABC Signature studio and the merging of its comedy and drama development teams at Hulu and ABC. The move aims to streamline operations and bring the company's streaming and linear TV divisions into closer alignment.

Navigating the Evolving Media Landscape

Consolidating Creative Forces

The reorganization will see the operations of ABC Signature combined with 20th Television, with Karey Burke continuing to lead the combined studio. Additionally, Simran Sethi has been promoted to president of scripted programming for Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, overseeing the merged development efforts. This consolidation of creative teams is designed to maximize Disney's ability to launch content across both linear and streaming platforms.

Adapting to Industry Shifts

The move comes as Disney, like other legacy media companies, seeks to streamline its operations and align its streaming and linear TV divisions more closely. The TV studio and development reorganization follows on the heels of some corporate-level layoffs at the company, reflecting the broader industry shifts towards a more integrated and efficient approach to content creation and distribution.

Elevating Talent and Expertise

As part of the restructuring, several key executive appointments have been made. Jordan Helman, previously the head of scripted content for Hulu, has been promoted to executive vice president of drama for Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, reporting to Sethi. Additionally, Josh Sussman has been elevated to lead the combined business affairs team for Disney Entertainment Television.

Navigating Challenging Decisions

The reorganization has also resulted in approximately 30 layoffs, a difficult but necessary step in streamlining the company's operations. In memos to staff, Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich and Disney TV Studios and Business Operations president Eric Schrier acknowledged the pain of these decisions, while expressing confidence in the team's ability to navigate the changes and continue delivering high-quality content.

Embracing the Future of Entertainment

Despite the challenges, Disney's leadership remains optimistic about the company's future. Schrier's memo highlighted the "extraordinary group of executives" leading the "all-star team," whose "collective commitment to creative risk-taking and delivering quality content will continue to drive our business into the future." As the media landscape continues to evolve, Disney's strategic reorganization aims to position the company for long-term success in the streaming era.