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.
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
ESPN peaked at 99 million subscribers back in 2013.. That was an impossible number to sustain because the advent of streaming changed the way the world watched and watches TV.
ESPN still has more than 82 million subscribers and ESPN+ has 12.1 million.
The news of their death has been greatly exaggerated.
ESPN is still the premiere sports viewing network.
Now their radio network has been in some trouble. Mike Greenberg coming back helped plug the water hole in the dam but they were losing affilates left and right when they got rid of Golic Sr. and then Will Cain rebuilt their afternoon lineup and he went to FOX News. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry:
ESPN is still the premiere sports viewing network.
Now their radio network has been in some trouble. Mike Greenberg coming back helped plug the water hole in the dam but they were losing affilates left and right when they got rid of Golic Sr. and then Will Cain rebuilt their afternoon lineup and he went to FOX News.
Yeah and what people don’t seem to understand, it’s that ESPN is as ubiquitous as NBC, ABC, FOX and CBS.
All of those networks change leadership and staff all the time. You’re only as good as your best ratings and success and if it’s not working, changes are made. Anyone can read about this these days because the Hollywood Reporter and Variety are online, it’s just that most don’t care which creative was just fired at NBC. [Reply]
Espn get rid of solid people and replace them with most non talented people. I mean dan lebetard cpspelling. Kenny mayne dan patrick you can't just replace good talent. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
Dude, JFC, I fucking hired one their Directors of Finance 18 years ago as junior financial analyst at Paramount. I don't pull shit out of my ass when talking about ANYTHING in the entertainment business.
You can believe whatever you want to believe but NO, those subscribers numbers are NOT mixed. If you're so concerned, do a fucking Google search, where you'll find historical data and charts within minutes.
You could be right, because you are right quite a bit. BUT, you pull shit out of your ass all the time. And then throw around titles like they mean something. [Reply]
Personally for me it is the politics. I consider myself a Libertarian so i have left leaning sympathies but, I do not turn into sports shows to see the same shit the main stream media is pushing. When i want politics i watch politics. When i want sports, now i usually just get on Chiefsplanet. [Reply]
Originally Posted by big nasty kcnut:
Espn get rid of solid people and replace them with most non talented people. I mean dan lebetard cpspelling. Kenny mayne dan patrick you can't just replace good talent.
Did they let Dan Patrick go or did he choose to leave on his own? Big difference between the two. [Reply]
Originally Posted by big nasty kcnut:
Espn get rid of solid people and replace them with most non talented people. I mean dan lebetard cpspelling. Kenny mayne dan patrick you can't just replace good talent.
Le batard was no loss. He had gotten to the point of using his show primarily for political discussion. Very little actual sports was discussed, unless it was local to the Miami area [Reply]
I don't understand the Berman hate, maybe it's just nostalgia from when I was a kid and the home run derby, but he's far from the worst talking head on that shitty network. [Reply]
Has a little to do with politics.
A lot to do with cord cutters.
A lot to do with younger people not giving a shit about sports at anywhere near the level our elders do. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BDj23:
I don't understand the Berman hate, maybe it's just nostalgia from when I was a kid and the home run derby, but he's far from the worst talking head on that shitty network.