Walt Disney Co.’s ABC television division is cutting about 175 jobs as part of a restructuring at the broadcast business, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The cuts amount to about 2.3 per cent of the unit’s approximately 7,600 employees, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the numbers aren’t being announced publicly. Most of the firings will occur at ABC-owned stations in eight markets, including New York and Los Angeles.

“As technological advances continue to alter the competitive landscape and viewer habits, it’s incumbent upon us to stay ahead of the curve,” Burbank, California-based ABC said today in an e-mailed statement. “To that end, we’ve undergone a review of our organisational structures and processes.”

BLOOMBERG