BREAKING: Disney to shutter ABC News polling site 538 amid layoffs

Richard Horrmann, senior vice president of strategic communications for Disney Entertainment Television, told USA Today, "While winding down the 538 brand, ABC News will continue to provide best-in-class polling and political data analysis that it has offered for decades."

Overall, 6 percent of employees at the ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Network units, or around 200 employees, will be impacted by the layoffs. 15 employees at 538 are being let go of, per the Wall Street Journal.

Horrmann said that affected staff were made aware of the layoffs on Wednesday. "We have worked hard to minimize the number of affected employees as much as possible." He said that the company is evaluating "new ways to effectively manage resources and boost efficiencies."

Other changes occurring amid the layoffs are the consolidation of ABC news magazine shows 20/20 and Nightline, and all three hours of Good Morning America will be consolidated under one person. The morning show previously had a separate production team for the third hour.

In the Disney Entertainment Networks unit, staffing reductions in scheduling and program planning are planned. The unit oversees broadcast networks and cable channels such as FX and Freeform.

ABC had previously placed the polling site, founded by pollster Nate Silver in 2008, "on the chopping block" as Silver’s contract was set to expire in the summer of 2023. ABC had controlled 538 since 2018, after an exchange of assets with ESPN, also owned by Disney.

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