The brand new podcast from Audacy, Hey Mayne, had the host himself, Kenny Mayne, on a bit of a press tour on Friday, this time stopping by Audacy’s 97.1 the Ticket in Detroit. There Mayne joined the morning show of Stoney and Jansen with Heather to talk about the podcast.
About halfway thru the interview, the end of Mayne’s tenure at ESPN came up surrounding a discussion of what has “happened to ESPN” and how the perception is they only pay people who scream all day. Mayne brought up Scott Van Pelt as an example as to otherwise, but also added comments on the end of his run.
“They made the determination that I wasn’t as valuable to them as I was the day before,” Mayne bluntly stated. “They were offering a far different deal to stay. I don’t know if that was ‘I hope he leaves’ or ‘here’s as much as we can go to have you stay’. You’d have to ask them.”
Mayne continued saying that he weighed his options and satisfaction level and decided an exit was due.
“For me, no different than anybody at any job where you’re not satisfied with your situation, so you go decide to do something else. That’s really all it was. It’s not very complicated. People leave jobs all the time, right? I left”.
Mayne also added that the changes, including pay as well as what appears might have been a different role with the network, weren’t what he had in mind.
“I didn’t think I wanted to stay for the new pay that it was going to be and the circumstances”.
Unprompted, Mayne continued talking about how ESPN evaluates their talent.
“They stick a lot of money into other people, for people they want to stay, right? And that’s fine,” said Mayne. “That’s the decision that they make based on whatever value they think this person or that person brings to the company”.
The now podcast host seemed to take a slight aim at how ESPN positioned their talent that became valuable to them.
“The old expression about moving the needle, I don’t know. I don’t know how many people really do or in some cases do they do well because they are put in places. Whoever does the biggest show, the highest-rated show, that’s already going to draw a certain audience, is inherently going to do well, right? Let me announce the Super Bowl and I bet I get a good number”.
Mayne did say he is happy with where is at and the decision he has made.
“I have zero regrets. I wish everyone there well. I’m doing other stuff”.
