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Title: Report: ESPN's next round of layoffs is going to include on-air personalities
Source: yahoo
URL Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/repor ... t-round-layoffs-161500192.html
Published: Mar 6, 2017
Author: [Business Insider] Emmett Knowlton
Post Date: 2017-03-06 22:23:24 by Dakmar
Keywords: None
Views: 87
Comments: 3

More layoffs are coming to ESPN, according to a report on Monday from Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch.

In October 2015, ESPN laid off north of 300 employees, mostly behind the scenes people. Now, Deitsch reports that layoffs will come to "talent" — ESPN parlance for writers and on-air personalities.

From SI:

"SI has learned that ESPN will have significant cost-cutting over the next four months on its talent side (people in front of the camera or audio/digital screen). Multiple sources said ESPN has been tasked with paring tens of millions of staff salary from its payroll, including staffers many viewers and readers will recognize. Those with contracts coming up would be particularly vulnerable, sources said."

Deitsch also reports that some contracts will be bought out:

"The company is also expected to buyout some existing contracts, which is something rare for ESPN historically beyond a few NFL talents. The cuts are expected to be completed by June. Sources within ESPN say that there is no set list of names yet and stressed that behind-the-scenes people will likely (key word) not be impacted by these cuts."

Last month, Disney, ESPN's parent company, reported a lower-than-expected revenue during its fourth quarter, in part because of a drop in ad revenue from ESPN. ESPN also continues to lose subscribers at an alarming rate.

Between skyrocketing rights fees (ESPN pays north of $4 billion for the NFL and NBA alone), and the continual loss of subscribers (mostly as a result of cord-cutting), ESPN is losing close to a billion dollars per year. The company needs to trim the fat, and as Deadspin notes, dumping some salaries is one clear way to do that.

"We have long been about serving fans and innovating to create the best content for them," ESPN said in a statement. "Today's fans consume content in many different ways and we are in a continuous process of adapting to change and improving what we do. Inevitably that has consequences for how we utilize our talent. We are confident that ESPN will continue to have a roster of talent that is unequaled in sports."


Poster Comment:

So consumers don't want to be constantly bombarded with Marxist social engineering nonsense? I wonder if pigeons like being shocked?

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#1. To: Dakmar (#0)

Eff ESPN.

I can't watch local sports teams unless I subscribe to them or I'm in some sports bar or saloon.

Eff Espn. I don't pay for that.

Fred Mertz  posted on  2017-03-06   23:03:39 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: Dakmar (#0)

And furthermore, I use the mute button unless there is a controversial call when watching sports. I don't need an 'expert' to tell me what I can see with my own eyes.

Can you tell that I hate ESPN? I hope so.

Fred Mertz  posted on  2017-03-06   23:09:29 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: Dakmar (#0)

Two more things.

I read a few years ago that they get $5 BILLION in subscriber fees on a gold platter before they broadcast a single sporting event. Then they add their advertising fees, promotions and whatnot.

Eff ESPN and I forgot the second one.

Fred Mertz  posted on  2017-03-06   23:23:06 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


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