ESPN lays off some familiar faces as it cuts 100 jobs

In a message sent Wednesday to ESPN employees, network president John Skipper announced the company was beginning its next round of layoffs, a long-anticipated move that is expected to thin the ranks of ESPN’s on-air and online talent.

“A necessary component of managing change involves constantly evaluating how we best utilize all of our resources, and that sometimes involves difficult decisions,” Skipper wrote. “Our content strategy - primarily illustrated in recent months by melding distinct, personality-driven SportsCenter TV editions and digital-only efforts with our biggest sub-brand - still needs to go further, faster . . . and as always, must be efficient and nimble. Dynamic change demands an increased focus on versatility and value, and as a result, we have been engaged in the challenging process of determining the talent - anchors, analysts, reporters, writers and those who handle play-by-play - necessary to meet those demands. We will implement changes in our talent lineup this week. A limited number of other positions will also be affected and a handful of new jobs will be posted to fill various needs.”

The job cuts, an ESPN decision as it re-positions itself for the future and not a mandate from parent company Disney, will affect around 100 out of the 1,000 so-called “front-facing” employees at ESPN, and the people with contracts will see those deals honored in full. Jim Miller, who co-wrote a book on ESPN’s history, said Wednesday that “around 50 names you will recognize; another 50 you may not” will be losing their jobs. Those who are part of the network’s daily programming lineup are more likely to be retained, a reflection of Skipper’s line about “versatility and value” in his letter to employees. Miller tweeted:

“Hearing now from several @espn employees who, despite advanced word, are ‘in shock’ and ‘frozen.’ This is an awful day for all in Bristol.”

Longtime NFL reporter Ed Werder was among the first to announce he had been laid off, on the eve of the NFL draft, no less (he had been assigned to cover the New Orleans Saints at the league’s annual selection meeting). If there was proof Wednesday that no one was safe, this was it. Werder was among the network’s most respected NFL voices. Werder tweeted:

“After 17 years reporting on #NFL, I’ve been informed that I’m being laid off by ESPN effective immediately. I have no plans to retire

“While surprised and disappointed, I was fortunate to have worked @espn with so many devoted, talented journalists. I will always be grateful”

Brett McMurphy, who broke a lot of college football news, is out. He tweeted:

“After 5 great years, I’ve been laid off by ESPN. It was a tremendous opportunity & I enjoyed working w/a lot of really, really good people”

College basketball analyst Len Elmore, who’d been with the network for 21 years tweeted:

“Gee, I feel like I am now part of an exclusive club. #ESPNLayoff. For 21 yrs. I tried to represent the best in college hoops. Adios Bristol!”

Danny Kanell, who has been with the network as a college football analyst since 2010 and co-hosted a radio show with Ryen Russillo since 2015:

“Poured my heart and soul into ESPN for last 8 years. Moved my wife and 3 kids to CT to go ‘all in’ 5 years ago. Bummed it ended in 3 minutes

“But totally get it. All part of a business that is rapidly changing. Thankful for the opportunity I was given and people I got to work with!”

Former Nationals general manager Jim Bowden has been let go. He tweeted:

“I feel blessed & privileged to have worked @ESPN and most importantly work w/ so many great people. Thank you. I look forward to what’s next”

Other names include baseball writer Jayson Stark and NFL analyst Trent Dilfer .

The Hollywood Reporter says longtime “Baseball Tonight” host and MLB play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech, ESPN Radio’s Ryen Russillo and network veteran Hannah Storm will see their roles “significantly reduced.” According to previous reports, a number of ESPN personalities had approached the network about taking voluntary pay cuts or reworking their contracts in order to keep their jobs.

Longtime “SportsCenter” host John Buccigross, who is more or less the face of the network’s hockey presence, is reportedly in limbo as his contract is set to expire. Cuts in NHL coverage include columnists Pierre LeBrun and Scott Burnside and writer Joe McDonald.

LeBrun tweeted:

“Well folks, as you can tell by my new Twitter handle, I was also among the cuts today at ESPN.”

Burnside tweeted:

“After 13 years of sticks and pucks can share that as of today my tenure at ESPN is at a close. I look forward to the next adventure.”

McDonald tweeted:

“After nearly eight years of covering the NHL, MLB and the NFL at ESPN, it’s time for the next chapter in my career.”

Longtime college basketball writer Dana O’Neil also was let go. She tweeted:

“Add me to the list. Just got the ‘call.’ I’ve been informed my contract will not be renewed at ESPN.”

Others who announced their departures include Austin Ward and Jesse Temple, who covered the Big Ten, ESPNU host Brendan Fitzgerald, ESPN Insider soccer writer Mike L. Goodman and baseball writer Mark Saxon. Paul Kuharsky, who covered the Tennessee Titans for ESPN.com, also announced he had been laid off earlier in the week.

The network is reportedly also shuttering its ESPNU studio in Charlotte, in favor of moving it to the headquarters in Bristol. The move won’t result in mass layoffs, however, the Charlotte Observer reports. Because many of the 200 employees work in the network’s events division, as well as in SEC network operations, “fewer than 10 people in Charlotte” are expected to lose their jobs, the Observer reports.

The layoffs are an attempt by ESPN to evolve in the wake of a two-headed challenge: a declining subscriber base and skyrocketing rights fees. Over the past five years, the network has lost somewhere around 12 million subscribers as the viewing public looks for cheaper avenues for home entertainment. At the same time, the money ESPN has paid to the professional sports leagues to acquire their live events steadily climbed. Last year, the network’s new nine-year agreement with the NBA to televise pro basketball games took effect. The reported cost to ESPN: somewhere around $1.5 billion per year, a massive increase over the previous deal. That’s on top of deals the network already had with the NFL ($1.9 billion annually), various NCAA conferences and the College Football Playoff (well over $1 billion), and Major League Baseball ($700 million). Some of those deals will be up for renewal in the not-so-distant future.

It’s the second round of layoffs at ESPN in less than two years. In October 2015, ESPN laid off around 300 people who worked behind the scenes. The network employs around 8,000 people in total.

Here is a list of some of those who lost their jobs, according to The New York Times:

Ed Werder, NFL reporter; Jayson Stark, baseball writer; Trent Dilfer, NFL analyst; Dana O’Neil, college basketball reporter; Eamonn Brennan, college basketball reporter; Danny Kanell, “Russillo and Kanell” radio host; Jane McManus, writer; Jeremy Crabtree, college football reporter; Brett McMurphy, college football reporter; Brian Bennett, Big 10 reporter; Doug Padilla, baseball writer; Max Olson, college football reporter; C.L. Brown, college basketball reporter; Mike Goodman, soccer writer; Johnette Howard, columnist; Austin Ward, Big Ten football reporter; Joe McDonald, hockey writer; Pierre LeBrun, hockey writer; Scott Burnside, NHL columnist; Jesse Temple, Big Ten football reporter; Jim Bowden, baseball analyst; Mark Saxon, baseball reporter; Paul Kuharsky, Tennessee Titans writer; Derek Tyson, SEC recruiting analyst; Jean-Jacques Taylor, ESPNDallas; and Brendan Fitzgerald, ESPNU host.

This story was originally published April 26, 2017 at 1:28 PM with the headline "ESPN lays off some familiar faces as it cuts 100 jobs."