ESPN reportedly plans another big round of layoffs in the coming weeks
BY PETE GRATHOFF
NOVEMBER 10, 2017 9:10 AM
Once upon a time, “SportsCenter” was must-see television for fans. But ESPN’s one-time signature program apparently will be at the center of another round of layoffs that reportedly will happen in the coming weeks.
Sports Illustrated reported that more than 100 people will lose their jobs after Thanksgiving. This is from the SI story:
The layoffs, which were described by a person briefed on the plans, will hit positions across ESPN including front-facing talent on the television side, producers, executives, and digital and technology staffers. The SportsCenter franchise is expected to be hit hard—including on-air people—given the frequency of the show has lessened considerably on main network ESPN.
As more people drop cable in favor of streaming, ESPN has felt the financial pinch. In April, ESPN cut a number of long-time journalists as part of a round of layoffs that included 100 people.
According to the Los Angeles Times, ESPN weighed down the earnings of its parent company, Walt Disney, in a report on Thursday. The Times said that Disney’s “revenue declined 3 percent and the company failed to meet analysts’ expectations.”
The holiday season may seem like a harsh time to shed jobs. But Sports Illustrated said one reason why ESPN is planning the layoffs between Thanksgiving and Christmas is so employees can received another year in the stock vesting program.
1) Start broadcasting Aussie Rules Football again.
2) No one wants to watch fantasy sport x stuff on tv. Drop that crap completely.
3) Have College Gameday focus on more than: Bama, Michigan, Ohio State, SEC in general and USC. Show has become unwatchable for the vast majority of college football fans.
4) Book weekly shows with smart talent for the major sports: Football: College and Pro, Baseball, Basketball: College and Pro, Hockey, soccer, and auto racing.
5) Stop the TMZ stuff. No one cares about x player's struggle with whatever.
6) Find interesting obscure sports from around the world and broadcast that. Much more interesting than mouth breathers shouting at each other and saying crap for controversy. Give me Rugby, Cricket, Handball, the Afghan sport that the throw a dead goat around in, whatever. [Reply]
ESPN peaked in the early to mid 90s. It's gone downhill ever since and is now scraping the bottom of the barrel. Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann ain't walking through that door. [Reply]
if they would can all the faux debate shows, and stop with all the human interest pieces that plague every pre-game show, that would be a step in the right direction. I love watching college gameday, but it seems like the last two years it's turned into a near endless stream of human interest stories - largely of people that no one has ever heard of.
stop trying to tug at the audiences heart strings, and just stick to sports.
and speaking of sports, show more obscure sports. Those are more entertaining to watch than the other stuff they currently broadcast. [Reply]
