News Summary The Los Angeles entertainment industry faces severe job cuts as layoffs persist due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood strikes, and wildfires. Major companies like Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, and the Walt Disney Company are among those reducing their workforce significantly. This trend indicates a broader issue of job insecurity and a shift towards digital formats in response to changing audience preferences. Organizations are forced to make difficult decisions to adapt to the evolving media landscape and financial pressures exacerbated by recent events. Los Angeles, California – The entertainment industry continues to face significant job cuts as media layoffs persist into 2025. This ongoing trend is attributed to multiple pressures, including the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, strikes within Hollywood, and substantial wildfires that devastated parts of California in January 2025. According to a compiled list, many major companies and media outlets have announced workforce reductions in the past few months. Notable layoffs include: Lionsgate: In mid-September 2025, the company announced a 5% reduction of its staff, resulting in approximately 50 job losses. This comes after an earlier 8% cut, contributing to a total decrease of 13% in their workforce. CNBC: The network laid off 12 employees across its international operations located in Singapore, London, and other areas. PBS: As a result of cuts in federal funding for public media, PBS laid off 34 staff members in early September 2025. Anonymous Content: This company cut nearly 15% of its workforce, which translates to about 19 employees, at the end of August 2025. Lifetime: Most of its unscripted team faced job losses on August 20, 2025, including the Vice President of Programming and Development. Hallmark: The network cut 30 jobs, including the Vice President of Production at Hallmark Media, on August 20, 2025. Warner Bros.: The company reduced its workforce by 10% due to ongoing leadership changes between Warner Bros and Discovery Global on July 28, 2025. Blumhouse: Six employees in the film, television, and casting divisions were let go in mid-July 2025. Microsoft: Approximately 9,000 workers, or 4% of its workforce, were laid off at the beginning of July 2025, marking a significant cut across its operations. In addition to these layoffs, further cuts have been reported by: BET: Following a reduction in domestic workforce by Paramount Global, CEO Scott Mills communicated planned cuts. Paramount: The company announced a 3.5% cut to its domestic workforce on June 10, 2025, responding to declines in traditional TV viewership. Warner Bros. Discovery: Another wave of cuts will affect jobs primarily in the cable sector of its business. Walt Disney Company: Several hundred employees were laid off across various divisions on June 2, 2025. Business Insider: Approximately 21% of its workforce experienced layoffs. Universal International Studios: Layoffs affected a small number of employees in their London headquarters, Australian hubs, and Los Angeles offices. LA Times: 14 members of its staff faced layoffs, accounting for about 6% of the newsroom. NBCUniversal: Layoffs commenced in April 2025 following a restructuring into a new standalone company (SpinCo). Meta: A 5% workforce reduction across its platforms was announced in January 2025. The Washington Post: Experienced layoffs impacting about 4% of its total staff in January 2025. Allen Media Group: Announced job cuts at television stations across the U.S. in January 2025. Time Magazine: Laid off roughly 30 employees across various departments in January 2025. Nexstar: Implemented a 2% workforce cut at the end of December 2024, impacting about 260 employees. TelevisaUnivision: Announced job cuts amidst a restructuring effort in light of declining traditional media consumption. The magnitude of these layoffs signifies a broader decline in job security and sustainability within the media industry. This downsizing reflects the increasing financial pressures and significant shifts in media consumption patterns stemming from advancements in technology and changes in audience preferences. As traditional media consumption declines, companies are reevaluating their business models, focusing more on digital, streaming, and innovative formats to survive in an ever-evolving landscape. The aftermath of the pandemic and various strikes has exacerbated these changes, forcing many organizations to make difficult yet necessary decisions regarding their workforce. 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