Amazon lays off hundreds of jobs at Prime Video and MGM Studios

Amazon is reducing its workforce in the Prime Video and MGM Studios division by hundreds of jobs, according to an email sent out by division leader Mike Hopkins. He announced on Wednesday morning that “several hundred roles” would be cut.

The layoffs come the same day Amazon’s Twitch livestreaming unit announced it will cut 500 jobs.

Prime Video hosts shows like Reacher and The Boys, and MGM is the producer of film franchises such as James Bond and Rocky, among others. Amazon’s free ad-supported streaming service, Freevee, also has original programming like Jury Duty and Primo.

It is unclear how the current round of layoffs will impact these divisions or exactly where the cuts will occur.

This news arrives just before Amazon is slated to add advertisements to Prime Video, which will require users to pay an additional $3 per month to avoid them. It is anticipated this change will generate billions of dollars in additional revenue for the division.

These cuts follow the layoffs of over 25,000 Amazon employees last year. Prime Video and MGM also underwent cuts in early 2023.

Read Hopkins’ note below:

Team,

We’ve taken significant steps towards our long-term vision of making Prime Video the first-choice entertainment destination for customers worldwide, and I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished as a team to date. Our investments in programming, marketing, and technology have enabled us to expand our selection of blockbuster movies, hit tv series, live sports, the world’s largest TVOD catalog along with over 650 partner Channels worldwide, and AVOD services including Freevee – all available in a single destination, delighting customers around the globe. And, through our acquisition of MGM, we’ve increased our investments in theatrical films and driven growth in MGM+ and our licensing and third-party production businesses.

Yet, at the same time, our industry continues to evolve quickly and it’s important that we prioritize our investments for the long-term success of our business, while relentlessly focusing on what we know matters most to our customers. Throughout the past year, we’ve looked at nearly every aspect of our business with an eye towards improving our ability to deliver even more breakthrough movies, TV shows, and live sports in a personalized, easy to use entertainment experience for our global customers. As a result, we’ve identified opportunities to reduce or discontinue investments in certain areas while increasing our investment and focus on content and product initiatives that deliver the most impact. As a result of these decisions, we will be eliminating several hundred roles across the Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios organization.

Today, we will begin to reach out to colleagues who are impacted by these role reductions. Notifications will be sent out shortly, and we expect all notifications in the Americas to be completed this morning (Pacific time), and most other regions by the end of the week. We are following local processes, which may include time for consultation with employee representative bodies, possibly resulting in longer timelines to communicate in some countries.

This is a difficult decision to make and one that my leadership team and I do not take lightly.  It is hard to say goodbye to talented Amazonians who’ve made meaningful contributions on behalf of our customers, team and business. Thank you for your dedication and work. To help with the transition, we are providing packages that include a separation payment, transitional benefits as applicable by country, and external job placement support.

Our prioritization of initiatives that we know will move the needle, along with our continued investments in programming, marketing and product, positions our business for an even stronger future. Prime Video is one of the most popular benefits for Prime members, and one of most widely used entertainment destinations in the world. I’m proud of the work you do every day on behalf of our customers, and I’m looking forward to continuing to build our business for the future.

Mike