By Richard Middleton

Discovery has restructured its operations in the UK to shift more emphasis onto its recently launched streamer, with around 10 per cent of jobs in the country at risk.

News of the revamp was revealed by EVP James Gibbons last week and comes six months since Discovery+ was rolled out in the UK, where the factual giant employs around 100 staff.

The changes will see those working on Discovery’s linear channels merged with the Discovery+ team. Claire Laycock, who oversees lifestyle and entertainment, is expanding her remit to become SVP of planning, and head of content for lifestyle & entertainment.

Simon Downing, whose remit had focused only on factual and sports, is now responsible for marketing across Discovery+ and its linear siblings. He becomes SVP of marketing and head of content for factual & sports.

Further details of the affected divisions have not yet been revealed, but a Discovery spokeswoman told TBI that the company was “reorganising the UK business to position it for continued success in the fast evolving TV and streaming world.”

She added: “The Discovery+ and linear TV marketing, content and insights teams have been combined to focus on driving value for consumers across all platforms.”

Discovery is the latest US-based giant to cut jobs overseas as it focuses on streaming. Disney slashed almost 30,000 jobs and enacted a wholesale restructure of its DTC operations last year, while NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia, and AMC have also cut workforces stateside.

UK trade Broadcast first reported the news.