OT: Big Layoffs at ESPN

[LETSGORU91_]

I respectfully disagree. Former and current sideline reporters:

http://americaswhiteboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/hot-sexy-Britt-McHenry-blue-sundress-bikini-***-tits-boobs-beautiful-ESPN-sideline-reporter-NFL.jpg

But hey, if you'd rather look at this, OK:

Good point..but the cheerleaders provide the same eye candy, wear less, and don't get paid as much...

 

[RUschool]

About 70-80% of the announcers will be replaced with the same amount of white and black and female announcers that are younger and paid substantially less. They should have offered the workers 50% pay cuts which would have brought the average down to $500,000.

This is the typical cleaning house that is done at all companies. If they thought the liberal BS caused the problems, they would go more conservative but in reality, ESPN is neither liberal or conservative.

 

[RUschool]

Well I've read that Disney's cable division operating income was in the vicinity of 800-900M and that mostly comprises of ESPN, so it's not as if it's losing money right now. The problem is that number continues to shrink YoY. Eventually, I think the descent will find an equilibrium and plateau but when that happens who knows.

The other thing is they always talk about subscriber losses but does that take into account what they may be recouping from the streaming services. I know at least ESPN/ESPN2 have found their way into a lot of skinny bundles and I think just one tier up from the bottom might get you ESPNU/ESPN news as well. At least ESPN/ESPN2 are on a lot of the streaming services like SlingTV/DirectTV Now as well and I believe in the upcoming Hulu service. So do those get counted when talking about subscriber losses. Or how about when the roll out the OTT service happens.

It's still seems kind of hard to "rid yourself" of them unless you're completely living off Netflix/Amazon and few of the basic channels or doing something illegal. Not sure what carriage fees they charge on the slim down bundles and streaming services though.

Well I sold my Disney share a couple of days ago. The ESPN problem was recognized about a year ago and DIS stock dropped 20% but in the last couple of months it recovered 15% probably because they knew this was coming.

 

[Spare130_rivals]

About 70-80% of the announcers will be replaced with the same amount of white and black and female announcers that are younger and paid substantially less. They should have offered the workers 50% pay cuts which would have brought the average down to $500,000.

This is the typical cleaning house that is done at all companies. If they thought the liberal BS caused the problems, they would go more conservative but in reality, ESPN is neither liberal or conservative.

ESPN is neither liberal or conservative? I almost dont know what to say to that, Lol.

I know it doesnt reflect the entire Network but it funny to think about how laughable some of the on air personalities are...

Max Kellerman demanded a public explanation from Brady for owning a "MAGA" hat.
Michael Smith and Jamelle Hill labeled Richard Sherman a "Disappointment" to black people for saying that all lives should matter.

I know the second example is less political and more just extreme stupidity but stil......

 

[Knight Shift]

ESPN layoffs: Stephen A. Smith screams at critics, 'lowlife' calling for his job

 

[RU2055]

ESPN layoffs: Stephen A. Smith screams at critics, 'lowlife' calling for his job

They've been making a living calling for other people's jobs and have been doing it for years. Now that it's happening to them, they're upset. Hypocrites of the highest level.

 

[BlockR]

They've been making a living calling for other people's jobs and have been doing it for years. Now that it's happening to them, they're upset. Hypocrites of the highest level.

Mark May Axed..lol.

 

[bitnez]

The cuts were not really about immediate dollars. ESPN decided to pull the plug on the local sportswriters and has decided that it doesn't need 15 people who do SportsCenter. ESPN is going to follow the CNN/FOX/SNBC model of developing 5-8 personalities and allow shows to be built around the personalities. In other words, it won't be "SportsCenter" anymore; it will be "The 6" (a blatant knock off of "The Five" on FOX), SVP at Midnight, etc. ESPN also has signaled that it is now ok with other news outlets breaking stories and it will simply report them. It has conceded it can't compete with fluid social media.

 

[Postman_1]

The only thing people seem to watch on espn now seems to be live sports. What made them great back in the days was sports. To much other crap on there now besides sports. Sadly I dont think it will ever be as good as it once was.

ESPN lays off longtime hosts in major shakeup

ESPN axed roughly 20 prominent jobs on Friday during a devastating round of cost-cutting layoffs as parent company, Disney, seeks to meet financial targets.

www.foxnews.com

 

[RU#1fan]

Fox loves bad mouthing Disney any way they can.
20 jobs is not a lot. These seasoned professionals will find work.
Fox has enough of its own problems recently.

 

[shields]

Joe Namath will miss Suzy.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Joe Namath will miss Suzy.

 

[Postman_1]

Fox loves bad mouthing Disney any way they can.
20 jobs is not a lot. These seasoned professionals will find work.
Fox has enough of its own problems recently.

I don’t think Fox was bad mouthing them. There’s a bunch of places reporting the same article basically. I think most posters that remember ESPN from its earlier days will agree it was better back then when it was about sports

 

[MADHAT1]

I don’t think Fox was bad mouthing them. There’s a bunch of places reporting the same article basically. I think most posters that remember ESPN from its earlier days will agree it was better back then when it was about sports

ESPN went from a sports site to one personality driven
I stay away unless there's a game on I want to see and spurts center
ceased to be a must see for my sports info.
Too often one of their loudmouths pop up talking their opinionated BS in a sports center show .
Makes me miss Nick Charles and Fred Hickman doing Sports Tonight

 

[mdk02]

Running list here (Beth Mowins still employed- SMH):
http://deadspin.com/a-running-list-of-espn-layoffs-1794664091

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...e-reportedly-affected/?utm_term=.2c1f1df36f6e

Mowins is from double protected classes. Poor Suzy only one.

 

[Doctor Worm]

ESPN went from a sports site to one personality driven
I stay away unless there's a game on I want to see and spurts center
ceased to be a must see for my sports info.
Too often one of their loudmouths pop up talking their opinionated BS in a sports center show .
Makes me miss Nick Charles and Fred Hickman doing Sports Tonight

What you are describing is by no means a new phenomenon. ESPN has been personality driven for decades. Stuart Scott, Kenny Mayne, Chris Berman, Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann (the apolitical version), etc.
The competing sports networks are no different - Jim Rome, Colin Cowherd, Skip Bayless, etc.

Opinionated BS you say? Well, BS is in the eye of the beholder, but opinions are what we as media viewership demand. In our news as well as our sports.

Remember ESPN News? (Its original incarnation, not whatever it is they broadcast now.) It consisted of 48 half-hour sports highlight shows per 24 hour day, presented by anonymous hosts. Nobody watched. Nobody cared.

I don't follow much sports chatter either. But clearly enough people do to justify its continual presence.

 

[mdk02]

What you are describing is by no means a new phenomenon. ESPN has been personality driven for decades. Stuart Scott, Kenny Mayne, Chris Berman, Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann (the apolitical version), etc.
The competing sports networks are no different - Jim Rome, Colin Cowherd, Skip Bayless, etc.

Opinionated BS you say? Well, BS is in the eye of the beholder, but opinions are what we as media viewership demand. In our news as well as our sports.

Remember ESPN News? (Its original incarnation, not whatever it is they broadcast now.) It consisted of 48 half-hour sports highlight shows per 24 hour day, presented by anonymous hosts. Nobody watched. Nobody cared.

I don't follow much sports chatter either. But clearly enough people do to justify its continual presence.

ESPN News is/was essentially an overflow site the could use when one of the games elsewhere ran long. The half hour highlight shows were for when nothing ran long

And the "personalities" were sports personalities, not political. Did Berman ever get political? It was Olbermann that cross the line and started the decline

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

I like SVP - usually during college football season or if there is a HUGE sports issue/event and I want his take.... I set the DVR and will record the rerun (at 2-4am or so) and will watch the next day. I do that, perhaps, 5-10 times a year

I will watch a live sporting even on ESPN if it's on ESPN... other than that, I haven't watched espn programming on purpose for 8-10 years...

 

[MulletCork]

Some big names got canned. Suzy Kolber was there 27 years. Hosted MNF countdown. Todd McShay too. We all watched him for draft coverage. Steve Young gone.

And then disposable blowhards like Keyshawn Johnson, Max Kellerman, Jalen Rose, Jeff Van Gundy.

More to come. Bloodletting for the woke wide leader.

But they will justify paying useless losers like Mike Greenberg. Just a braindead guy in a suit

And overpaying for Joe Buck and Troy Aikman for a couple hours a week. And not doing other appearances.

And then blowing their wad on Pat McAfee for relevance but undoubtedly will try to neuter him and ruin that show too.

Amazingly poorly run.

 

[newell138]

The only thing people seem to watch on espn now seems to be live sports. What made them great back in the days was sports. To much other crap on there now besides sports. Sadly I dont think it will ever be as good as it once was.

ESPN lays off longtime hosts in major shakeup

ESPN axed roughly 20 prominent jobs on Friday during a devastating round of cost-cutting layoffs as parent company, Disney, seeks to meet financial targets.

www.foxnews.com

It’s reminiscent of when MTV stopped doing music videos

 

[RU from Jersey_rivals]

Personally I would rather watch live Australian Rules Football, like in the "old" days, than listen to blowhards like Chris Russo and Stephen A. Smith.

 

[Joey Bags]

ESPN sucks ***

 

[rutgersguy1_rivals]

I liked Pollack, thought he was solid. Would’ve been better off keeping him than McAfee on CGD imo.

 

[Rokodesh]

I liked Pollack, thought he was solid. Would’ve been better off keeping him than McAfee on CGD imo.

I don't get the appeal of McAfee AT ALL. I just find him annoying. Let's see how he does on ESPN.

Pollack is good, he should go to Fox or CBS

 

[rutgersguy1_rivals]

I don't get the appeal of McAfee AT ALL. I just find him annoying. Let's see how he does on ESPN.

Pollack is good, he should go to Fox or CBS

I find McAfee annoying too and I can’t stand him and will flip the channel when he gets loud and obnoxious.

Fox has a replacement for Bush iirc. I don’t think they’d replace Leinart but I like Pollack better than Leinart. UM is the best one they have imo.

 

[koleszar]

For some reason I always tune in thinking it changed, then I quickly go WTF is this show and turn it off. For me it's just live college football. I don't even like Gameday any longer as they're just a shill for the SEC.

 

[RuSnp]

For some reason I always tune in thinking it changed, then I quickly go WTF is this show and turn it off. For me it's just live college football. I don't even like Gameday any longer as they're just a shill for the SEC.

The number of 'personalities' let go really speaks to how meaningless a lot of these roles are/were. The idea that a guy like Mike Greenberg is still being paid millions to do - I don't know what exactly - to me says there needs to be more to come.

 

[Retired711]

Good personalities attract an audience. Bad personalities do not. Right now, ESPN has a shortage of the first and a surplus of the latter. If they reverse that, people will watch again.

 

[Postman_1]

Good personalities attract an audience. Bad personalities do not. Right now, ESPN has a shortage of the first and a surplus of the latter. If they reverse that, people will watch again.

The way I'll watch again and most people I know is if they go back to sports. Years ago they had some personalities I didn't like but still watched. They used to air more types of sports too

 

[e5fdny]

ESPN went from a sports site to one personality driven
I stay away unless there's a game on I want to see and spurts center
ceased to be a must see for my sports info.
Too often one of their loudmouths pop up talking their opinionated BS in a sports center show .

Makes me miss Nick Charles and Fred Hickman doing Sports Tonight

Way back in the day when they went head to head, there were many who said CNNSI was better. Like Beta vs. VHS.

 

[Retired711]

The way I'll watch again and most people I know is if they go back to sports. Years ago they had some personalities I didn't like but still watched. They used to air more types of sports too

You're right -- but Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith aren't worth listening to even when they talk about sports.

 

[mdk02]

Good personalities attract an audience. Bad personalities do not. Right now, ESPN has a shortage of the first and a surplus of the latter. If they reverse that, people will watch again.

Has to be money too. Mowins turns off a lot of viewers and is staying while it's the opposite for Kolber and she's gone

 

[MadRU]

Disney run

 

[newwavedave1]

Does anybody even watch the NBA anymore, except for the playoffs? I tried watching a game about a week back, I made it through 5 mins.. It was horrible, guys jogging down the court, no one played defense, no passing, immediate shot then proceed the other way. Hell a couple guys didn't even make it down court. It was an absolutely pathetic display of basketball.

I'm with you. Yet they're getting paid millions.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

For a board where most posters claim to avoid and not pay attention to ESPiN, it sure seems like knowledgeable people giving an in-depth rundown of what's going on with the recent layoffs.

Death to ESPiN

 

[RU_DIO]

I'd love for ESPN to keep their ****** political opinions to themselves. I hope their networks along with ABC fail miserably.
Oh, and their beloved parent company, Disney.

Keep politics out of sports and Mickey's World.

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

That is only one of ESPN's problems. The bigger problem is that they are really unable to cut costs for their rights fees so they have nowhere else to turn (since they've already gutted the rest of their staff) but to cut all of their "talent."

Take for example how much they increased their pay for the NBA. In 2014, even with 3 years to go on their then-current contract, they agreed to increase the annual rights fee for NBA to 1.4 billion. They had previously been paying ~500 million.

This is probably the biggest example of extremely poor business thinking. At that time it was already obvious that ESPN was and would continue to lose subscribers, yet they entered into a deal for another decade that depended on maintaining subscriber fees from 100M. Now that there are under 90M subscribers, they are getting crushed by this deal and others.

Cutting all of their on-air talent over the last year has been like rearranging deck chairs on the titanic. It is small potatoes compared to the fees they pay.

NBA TV rights are about to become even more expensive. A lot more.

 

[Brisket and Bourbon]

I'd love for ESPN to keep their ****** political opinions to themselves. I hope their networks along with ABC fail miserably.
Oh, and their beloved parent company, Disney.

Keep politics out of sports and Mickey's World.

Rejoice…they already are!! it’s remarkable how many stupid and financially questionable decisions one company can make…and it is awesome! Celebrate with a beer…just not from AB!

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

Politics aside, let's talk fallout. ESPiN has hustled Texas and Oklahoma into the SEC with the idea of a colossal payday soon. SEC is expected to keep pace with the B1G, but are recent moves indicators of a more significant issue at Disney/ESPiN/ABC? ESPiN doesn't control sports the way it once did. Disney is tightening its belt, and ESPiN is the child who doesn't have unlimited access to the parent's credit cards. Will SEC be able to keep pace with B1G over the short and long term?

Is Disney still shopping ESPIN to other networks, or are they ready to kick ESPiN out on its own?

 

[Doctor Worm]

Keep politics out of sports and Mickey's World.

And this board.