ESPN is preparing a new round of layoffs, roughly 30 positions, mainly off‑camera roles, as the sports network reels from long‑term cord‑cutting, rising rights costs and a costly distribution blackout with YouTube TV last fall, according to Puck news.
Key details from Puck’s reporting
- Scope and timing: Sources told Puck the cuts will be limited (near 30 jobs) and are expected in the coming weeks, focused on behind‑the‑scenes departments rather than top on‑air talent.
- Why now: The story cites three pressures driving the move — sustained subscriber losses as viewers abandon pay TV, escalating rights fees (notably for Monday Night Football), and a roughly two‑week carriage blackout on YouTube TV last fall that executives say produced a roughly $100 million revenue hit for Disney/ESPN.
- Corporate context: Puck also notes uncertainty about ESPN’s strategic future under Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, including ongoing discussion about potential corporate restructuring or a spin‑off, which is shaping cost‑cutting priorities.
- Cord‑cutting: ESPN’s traditional distribution footprint has shrunk substantially over the past decade, reducing carriage fee revenue that historically underpinned the network’s economics — a core reason legacy sports networks are trimming headcount.
- YouTube TV blackout: Disney and YouTube TV reached a deal in mid‑November after a multi‑day blackout that left millions without ESPN and other Disney channels; coverage at the time documented the disruption and commercial consequences for both sides. Industry accounts and Puck link that blackout directly to the network’s recent unexpected revenue shortfall.
Look for an ESPN or Disney statement and any WARN notices that would specify timing and headcount.