Another round of layoffs is reportedly coming to ESPN. The cuts will affect both on-air talent and behind-the-scenes staff, according to a report by Front Office Sports.
What We Know: ESPN is reportedly preparing a new wave of layoffs this summer. Both on-camera talent and non-camera-facing employees will likely be part of the cuts. This follows a spring round that eliminated roughly 30 behind the scenes positions as part of broader Disney company-wide cuts.
What They Said: In an April note to employees, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro signaled more cuts were coming: “Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs. As a result, we will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company and have begun notifying impacted employees.”
What Remains Unclear: The exact number of people that will unfortunately feel the effect of the layoffs. It’s also uncertain how deeply the cuts will penetrate ESPN’s current on-air roster. Additionally, ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network complicates the picture — headcount reductions are common following corporate acquisitions. Deadline previously reported that Disney’s broader layoff initiative may not be finished.
What It Means: This shouldn’t come as any surprise. Unfortunately, with ESPN taking on the amount of NFL Network staff and talent with the network’s acquisition of the brand, decisions are a part of that process. With the summer months being crucial to lining up top talent and staff ahead of the NFL season, names will likely begin to surface soon. ESPN is heading into it’s first year broadcasting the Super Bowl. Ensuring the right talent are in place for the network’s debut is crucial for success.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
