The Walt Disney Company has officially shut down FiveThirtyEight, the once-prominent political analysis website, as part of sweeping layoffs across ABC News and Disney Entertainment Networks. The move is part of a broader effort to cut costs and restructure its struggling media empire.
FiveThirtyEight Completely Dismantled
Disney’s closure of FiveThirtyEight eliminates the entire staff of 15 employees, marking the end of an era for the data-driven political forecasting site.
FiveThirtyEight, founded in 2008 by Nate Silver, was known for its statistical approach to elections and polling. However, its credibility took a major hit after failing to predict the 2016 presidential election, when it gave Hillary Clinton a 71.4% chance of winning—only for Donald Trump to win the presidency.
G. Elliott Morris, FiveThirtyEight’s editorial director of data analytics, confirmed the shutdown, calling it a severe blow to political data journalism.
Silver, who left the company in 2023 after reported conflicts with Disney executives, reacted to the news by saying, “They deserved much better.”
Major Shakeups at ABC News
The closure of FiveThirtyEight is just one piece of Disney’s wider restructuring efforts. As part of the cost-cutting measures, ABC News has also announced:
- Merging of “20/20” and “Nightline” into a single investigative unit.
- Consolidation of “Good Morning America”, bringing all three hours of the show under one production team.
These layoffs affect roughly 200 employees, accounting for nearly 6% of ABC News and Disney Networks staff.
Disney’s Struggles Under Bob Iger
The layoffs and budget cuts reflect Disney’s ongoing financial troubles under CEO Bob Iger, who returned in 2022 to address the company’s failing media division and streaming losses.
Disney has lost billions on its streaming services, while its traditional cable TV business has seen steep declines in viewership. The company’s stock has also struggled, dropping more than 3% over the past year.
The End of FiveThirtyEight and What It Means for Political Journalism
The decision to axe FiveThirtyEight signals a dramatic shift in media consumption, as traditional outlets struggle to maintain influence in a rapidly changing news landscape.
Once considered the gold standard for political forecasting, FiveThirtyEight’s misfires in recent elections, combined with declining audience interest in data-heavy analysis, left the site vulnerable to Disney’s cost-cutting measures.
As the media industry continues to evolve, FiveThirtyEight’s shutdown serves as yet another reminder that legacy media outlets are no longer untouchable in the new digital age.