ESPN is bracing for another round of staff reductions at its Bristol, Connecticut, headquarters, according to a report by John Ourand of Puck.
Roughly 30 positions are expected to be eliminated, with cuts concentrated in off-camera jobs, people familiar with the plan told the outlet. The move is the latest adjustment at the network as the sports media industry confronts cord-cutting, escalating rights fees and questions about whether ESPN will eventually spin off from parent company The Walt Disney Company.
Sources said the coming layoffs are unrelated to the network’s recent hiring of former NFL Network talent. Instead, financial pressure has mounted from several areas, including an estimated $100 million hit tied to last year’s carriage dispute with YouTube TV and anticipated increases in costs tied to ESPN’s partnership with the NFL.
NBA coverage largely untouched—for now
On-air NBA personalities are not expected to be affected in this wave of cuts, Hoops Wire reported. While the network’s visible basketball voices should remain in place, changes behind the scenes are set to continue as ESPN adapts to a marketplace that favors streaming and operational flexibility over traditional outlets.
Source: Hoops Wire
