The Prime Video layoffs 2024 mark an awful start to the new year as many will left in limbo. According to the official announcements, Twitch is also cutting several jobs.
In recent news, two major players in the tech and streaming world, Prime Video and Twitch, have announced significant job cuts. Both Prime Video and Twitch, owned by Amazon, are facing changes that reflect wider trends in the tech industry. Let’s take a closer look at the Prime Video layoffs 2024 situation and Twitch.
Prime Video layoffs 2024: A very bad way to start the year
2024 hasn’t been great for Prime Video, a part of Amazon, as seen in the Prime Video layoffs 2024 news. The company, famous for its streaming service, is planning to lay off hundreds of workers. This is part of a big plan to change and focus on what works best for the company.
Mike Hopkins, who’s a big boss at Prime Video, told everyone about the layoffs in an email. He said that the company needs to focus on making shows and improving its products. Even though they’re letting go of people, Hopkins is hopeful. He believes that investing in new shows and better marketing will help Prime Video do well in the future.
According to Reuters, “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,” Mike Hopkins, senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said in an internal memo.
For the workers in the U.S. who are losing their jobs, Amazon is trying to help, says TechCrunch. They’re giving them money and benefits for a while and helping them find new jobs. This shows that the company cares about its workers during these hard times.
Twitch layoffs 2024
Looking at Twitch, another part of Amazon, the situation is similar. Twitch is a place where people stream videos live, and they’re also cutting jobs. About 35% of their workers, close to 500 people, are being laid off. This news came out first in a Bloomberg report and later confirmed by Twitch.
Dan Clancy, the boss of Twitch, wasn’t happy that the news got out before they could tell their workers. He said that letting people go was necessary to keep Twitch strong for the future. Last year, Twitch gave more than $1 billion to its streamers, but the company’s growth didn’t keep up with its size.
“I wanted to send a short note to let you know that we’ve made the difficult decision to reduce the size of our workforce today. At this point in time, we are focused on communicating with our employees and providing them with clarity on how this impacts each of them. We greatly value the employees we’re saying goodbye to today as people and professionals and are grateful for all their efforts to support all of you. I’m sharing a copy of the email that I sent out to the company this morning to provide more context on the decision,” Clancy said in the official blog post.
Like Amazon, Twitch’s job cuts are part of a bigger trend in tech companies. These companies are adjusting their size to fit the current market and what they think will happen in the future. This tough decision is seen as important for staying strong in a fast-changing tech world.
The layoffs at Prime Video and Twitch mark a significant shift in Amazon’s strategy as it adapts to the changing landscape of the tech and streaming industries. While these changes are challenging for the employees affected, they reflect a broader trend in the tech world toward restructuring and refocusing resources. As Amazon continues to invest in areas with the most growth potential, it’s clear that the company is positioning itself for long-term sustainability and success.
Featured image credit: Thibault Penin/Unsplash
