ESPN NFL Coverage, Radio Take The Biggest Hits

Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams, Max Kellerman

Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber, Jalen Rose and Steve Young are among roughly 20 ESPN commentators and reporters who were laid off on Friday as part of job cuts by the network, according to AP News and many media reports.

ESPN had planned this additional round involving on-air talent to prevent further reductions to off-air staff after two rounds of mandated cuts by its corporate owner, the Walt Disney Company.  CEO Bob Iger announced in February that the company would reduce 7,000 jobs either through not filling positions or layoffs.

Friday’s announcement resembled what happened in April of 2017, when reporters and hosts were informed at one time that they would no longer be on the air.

“Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun. This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead,” ESPN said in a statement. “This is an extremely challenging process, involving individuals who have had tremendous impact on our company. These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth.”

• Van Gundy had been the network’s top NBA analyst since 2007 and recently completed calling a record 17th NBA Finals.

• 

  Suzy Kolber

  Kolber was a longtime ESPN veteran, including being the co-host of a nightly show when ESPN2 debuted in 1993. She was also the host of ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” show. “Today I join the many hard-working colleagues who have been laid off. Heartbreaking-but 27 years at ESPN was a good run. So grateful for a 38 yr career! Longevity for a woman in this business is something I’m especially proud of,” Kolber said on social media.
• Rose had also been with ESPN since 2007. He was mainly part of the NBA studio shows but also did a radio show for 11 years and was a co-host when Mike Greenberg’s “Get Up” morning show premiered in 2018.
• Longtime draft analyst Todd McShay, who also contributed to college football coverage, and analyst Matt Hasselbeck were also laid off.
• ESPN Radio’s morning show team of Max Kellerman and Keyshawn Johnson as well as afternoon host Jason Fitz were also affected. Kellerman also did an afternoon show on ESPN, but that was unlikely to continue after Pat McAfee signed to bring his show to the network’s airwaves in the fall.

Others include “SportsCenter” anchor Ashley Brewer, college basketball analyst LaPhonso Ellis and baseball writer Joon Lee.

Most will be bought out of their contracts and receive their full pay. If they want to take another job, they would have to negotiate an exit arrangement with ESPN.

ESPN, which employs approximately 5,000 people, has undergone previous layoffs in recent months, but this is the first one to touch on-air personalities. Layoffs at Disney-owned companies were initiated in late March as part of a plan to cut its workforce by 7,000 people.

ESPN was first affected in April, when several behind-the-scenes employees were laid off.

Beyond layoffs, the network also isn’t renewing the contracts of multiple on-air personalities. Former Patriots linebacker and NFL analyst Rob Ninkovich and longtime “SportsCenter” host Neil Everett are among that group, according to The Boston Globe.

“Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun,’’ said ESPN in a statement issued Friday morning.

The news comes one day after National Geographic announced its second round of layoffs this year, joining The Los Angeles Times, Vox Media, BuzzFeed and The Washington Post on the list of media companies that have tightened their belts recently.

The staff reductions arrive as ESPN, like so many other U.S. cable outlets, struggles with ongoing cord-cutting by consumers and the massive financial challenges they present. ESPN is now in 72.5 million homes, according to Nielsen, down 28% from a peak of 100.1 million in 2011 — and the yearly subscriber losses are accelerating.

ESPN announced last month it hired former NFL punter Pat McAfee, host of “The Pat McAfee Show.” The New York Post reported ESPN is paying McAfee around $85 million over five years. Still, ESPN’s McAfee comes with a ready-made show, which the network believes will be profitable from day one.