Latest news with #AlminKaramehmedovic
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Disney boss Bob Iger, ABC exec asked 'The View' hosts to cool it on politics: report
Disney CEO Bob Iger and other executives have reportedly asked the co-hosts of "The View" to turn down their heated political rhetoric. Multiple Disney sources told The Daily Beast that both Iger and ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic recently suggested that the all-female daytime talk show panel be less antagonistic on political issues, though the recommendation was reportedly not taken too seriously. The co-hosts of "The View" have become known as being some of President Donald Trump's fiercest media critics since he began his political career. "This is what our audience wants. Isn't it gonna look kind of bad if we're all of a sudden not talking about politics?" one source told the outlet, paraphrasing how the co-hosts replied to the ABC and Disney executives. As the outlet reported, "Karamehmedovic convened a meeting with 'The View's' executive producer Brian Teta and its hosts, and suggested the panel needed to broaden its conversations beyond its predominant focus on politics." The ABC News president pointed to successful, less political segments with famous guests and suggested the co-hosts focus on this kind of content. The sources described how the show's hosts pushed back against the suggestion, with Ana Navarro reacting the most forcefully. She told the ABC News head that audiences want the hosts to speak out on political issues. The sources stated that Navarro and her colleagues found the request "silly" and insisted they were going to "keep doing their thing." They also spoke of a conversation that Navarro had with Iger during an event last week held by the ABC parent company intended to woo new advertisers. The co-host reportedly expressed gratitude to Iger for allowing her and her co-hosts to continue doing the show in a politically divisive time. The Disney boss told Navarro he supports the show, but added that it needs to relax with its political commentary. Multiple sources told The New York Post in February that "The View" executive producer Brian Teta had asked the hosts to try "going easy" on Trump in the weeks leading up to his inauguration. The request was reportedly the cause of morale being "low" on set at the time. One of The Daily Beast's sources noted that ABC will "constantly have conversations with talent based on viewer feedback," noting that this latest instance with Iger and Karamehmedovic is "no different." A spokesperson for ABC News declined to comment for this story. Representatives from Disney did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brooke Brower To Depart As Executive Producer Of ABC's ‘This Week'
Brooke Brower is stepping down as executive producer of ABC News' This Week with George Stephanopoulos after almost two years in the role. A spokesperson confirmed Brower's exit. No successor has been named. More from Deadline ABC News Sets White House Team To Cover Next Trump Administration Almin Karamehmedovic Named President Of ABC News Aline Brosh McKenna's Lean Machine Options Jonathan Allen & Amie Parnes' 2024 Presidential Campaign Book 'Fight' Brower joined the network in 2023, having previously served as managing editor for CNN Politics and, before that, more than a decade at MSNBC. He did not immediately return a request for comment. The network has been promoting the show's viewer gains versus last season, including in the 25-54 demo. Martha Raddatz and Jonathan Karl also are co-hosts of the Sunday broadcast. Brower started in the role under then-ABC News president Kim Godwin, who departed a year ago. She was succeeded by Almin Karamehmedovic, who had previously been executive producer of World News Tonight. Puck first reported the news. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far Everything We Know About Paramount's 'Regretting You' Adaptation So Far
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ABC News Chief Sets New Mission and Structure As Division Seeks to Move on From Tough Layoffs
ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic sought to reassure staffers at the network news division that it was engaging in a thoughtful strategy to grow and expand the ABC News brand, despite the difficult layoffs that took place earlier this month. Karamehmedovic gathered ABC News employees at The Walt Disney Co.'s newly-opened New York City headquarters Tuesday in Hudson Square, taking questions and outlining his vision for the storied network news division. He also recapped the town hall in a note to staff, which The Hollywood Reporter obtained. More from The Hollywood Reporter ABC News Pivots Podcast Slate to Focus on True Crime, 20/20 Shows in the Works (Exclusive) Disney Cuts Nearly 200 Jobs at ABC News and Entertainment Networks ABC News Agrees to AI Protections for Writers in Latest Contract A source says he fielded multiple questions about the layoffs, which saw 538 shuttered, the Nightline and 20/20 teams consolidated, the Good Morning America team consolidated under producer Simone Swink, and a merging of digital and social operations. He also discussed the future of GMA3, the early afternoon spinoff of the morning program, and said that it was there to stay, despite the merging of teams. 'This is not easy. The entire industry has been challenged, and restructuring the way we operate has, unfortunately, had an impact on some of our colleagues,' he wrote to staff. 'We thank them again for their professionalism, dedication and meaningful contributions.' Karamehmedovic told employees that ABC News was restructuring around three 'pillars': '24/7 live and breaking news,' in an effort to ensure that ABC News is the default choice on linear, streaming, digital and social for anyone seeking information on news happening now; 'signature shows,' including GMA, World News Tonight, The View, Tamron Hall, and This Week; and 'longform storytelling,' built around 20/20, Nightline, and ABC News Studios. He also laid out three 'priorities' for the news division going forward, including a mission to 'preserve and expand our audience by reaching our viewers wherever they are,'; 'Streamline and strengthen our operations to collaborate better in service of the news.,'; and 'execute and deliver for our audience with excellence.' He framed the ABC News mission as being about 'straightforward journalism.' 'We were called to journalism because we believe in its value in society,' he wrote. 'The role of an independent press is essential, and we cannot take this for granted. For 70 years, ABC News has delivered exceptional reporting, interviews and analysis — this is why audiences turn to us. We must continue to prove our value to protect our future. We must earn their trust every single day by providing straightforward journalism.' Of course the ABC News cuts come as TV news writ large is facing a cash crunch, as cord-cutting impacts the bottom lines of cable news outlets (Fox News seeming to be the only exception for now), while network news divisions deal with a fracturing linear audience and a digital audience that isn't quite making up for those linear losses. The result, across companies, is more consolidation and merging of teams, smaller pay packages for top talent, and even a rethinking of programming strategy. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disney cuts 6% of staffers from news and entertainment unit, shutters data-driven website 538
Disney (DIS) is eliminating 6% of staffers, or just under 200 employees, from its news and entertainment division, Yahoo Finance confirmed on Wednesday. The bulk of the cuts will impact ABC News, which is also shuttering its political and data-driven news site 538. Disney's ESPN first acquired 538 from Nate Silver in 2013 before it was transferred to the network side of the company five years later. As part of the layoffs, first reported by the Wall Street Journal and the newsletter Status, production teams across "20/20" and "Nightline" will consolidate, along with the three hours of "Good Morning America's" branded shows. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Disney stock was little changed on the news. Shares are down about 2% since the start of the year, lagging the broader S&P 500 (^GSPC). "Rethinking the way we work to future-proof our team regrettably includes reductions to our extraordinary staff," Almin Karamehmedovic, president of ABC News, said in an internal memo viewed by Yahoo Finance. The cuts come as Disney works to streamline operations in the midst of traditional television's rapid decline. 'ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks continually evaluates new ways to effectively manage resources and boost efficiencies," Karamehmedovic added. Since 2023, Disney has eliminated more than 8,000 roles in an effort to cut $7.5 billion worth of annual costs. Disney, like other legacy media companies, has heavily invested in expensive streaming endeavors amid the mass exodus of pay TV consumers. In its latest earnings release, Disney reported a 7% year-over-year decline in linear network revenue. Operating income for the division dropped 11%. Prior to the cord-cutting phenomenon, linear advertising and cable affiliate fees had consistently boosted revenues. But as ad buyers now flee traditional TV channels in favor of digital options like streaming, companies are beginning to realize they may never realize those economics again. These pressures have resulted in waves of layoffs across the industry as companies double down on streaming through newly launched ad-supported tiers, bundled offerings, and price hikes. Read more: Do you pay taxes on unemployment? What to expect when you file your return. Disney management has continued to reiterate, however, its intention to hold on to traditional TV assets. "Linear networks and streaming are in many ways two sides of the same coin because a lot of the content that we produce actually winds up in both locations," Disney CFO Hugh Johnston told Yahoo Finance last month. "In many ways, we've kind of perfectly hedged the business," Johnston added. "A lot of our focus on cost is how do we get the right aggregate outcome rather than focusing on one side of the coin." Alexandra Canal is a Senior Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X @allie_canal, LinkedIn, and email her at
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disney Announces Layoffs at ABC News and Disney Entertainment Networks
The Walt Disney Company announced layoffs on Wednesday at ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Network. According to sources familiar with the matter, the cuts will impact nearly 200 employees or less than 6% of total staff, with the majority coming from ABC News' New York-based team. The Wall Street Journal first reported news of this latest round of layoffs. 'Rethinking the way we work to future-proof our team regrettably includes reductions to our extraordinary staff," Almin Karamehmedovic, ABC News' leader said in an e-mail to staffers obtained by the Journal's media reporter, Joe Flint. 'These decisions are incredibly challenging and today will undoubtedly be difficult for our organization.' Perhaps the biggest casualty is the 538 brand founded by Nate Silver in 2008 and eventually acquired by ABC News in 2018. In the Wednesday edition of his Reliable Sources newsletter, CNN media analyst Brian Stelter notes that the site will be wound down with 15 people being let go. 528's polling and political data analysis will be absorbed by ABC News. Silver-who was laid off by ABC News in 2023-took to social media to mourn the shutting down of 538. 'My heart goes out to the people there,' he wrote. 'They were tremendously hard-working and produced a lot of extremely valuable data and insight for everyone who wants to understand politics better. They deserved much better.' Other ABC News impacted by the layoffs include the Good Morning America branded shows, which will be consolidated under executive producer Simone Swink. The third hour, GMA3, was previously supervised by a different unit. Similarly, ABC News' longform units-including ABC News Studios, 20/20, Nightline, and Impact x Nightline-will now be part of one leadership structure. Digital editorial and social teams will be integrated part of newsgathering, shows, and ABC's owned and operated station units. Meanwhile, the cuts at Disney Entertainment Networks are primarily impacting the planning and scheduling teams within the company's broadcast and cable networks. Disney's Vancouver-based animation studio will also see some positions eliminated. Disney has recently been putting more emphasis on its streaming networks and prioritizing live sports and entertainment content, including the Oscars, which saw a boost in viewership for the 97th edition.
