Warner Bros. Discovery Announces Layoffs of Fewer Than 1,000 Employees, Reducing Max Staff Numbers to Single Digits

Warner Bros. Discovery is facing another round of layoffs, although this time the number of employees affected is not as extensive as the significant cuts made under the leadership of David Zaslav last year. Sources familiar with the situation disclosed that nearly 1,000 employees are expected to be laid off in various departments at Warner Bros. Discovery, including finance, business affairs, production, and the streaming platform Max. The majority of the job cuts are reported to be in the finance division, with fewer than 10 Max employees impacted.

As of the time of publication, not all affected employees have been notified about the layoffs. Warner Bros. Discovery has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the recent downsizing. These job cuts are the latest in a series of staff reductions at Warner Bros. Discovery following the merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia in April 2022, which led to the formation of the new company. Throughout 2023, layoffs occurred intermittently, with additional cuts amid challenging periods for WBD’s streaming business and the broader streaming industry in Hollywood. The company also faced setbacks due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last summer, particularly impacting HBO and Max in August.

Warner Bros. Discovery recently launched its combined streaming service, Max, which includes HBO Max and Discovery+. The company has signaled a shift in its strategy from streaming to linear content, as evidenced by the rebranding of several upcoming Max original series, such as DC’s “The Penguin,” the “It” prequel “Welcome to Derry,” and the “Harry Potter” TV adaptation, which will now debut as HBO shows on the cable channel.

Looking ahead, Warner Bros. Discovery is anticipated to disclose its latest subscriber figures for its streaming services when it announces its second-quarter earnings results on August 7. The news of the recent layoffs was initially reported by Deadline, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Warner Bros. Discovery as it navigates changes in the entertainment landscape and strives to adapt to evolving viewer preferences and industry dynamics.