O.T. ESPN Layoffs expected to start Wednesday... | Page 2 | The Boneyard

O.T. ESPN Layoffs expected to start Wednesday...

KnightBridgeAZ said:
I just have to say - after reading the article - that replacing Chris Berman (that I didn't like) with Samantha Ponder (that I never heard of) on their football show sounds like an attempt at appealing to a new demographic.
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Putting a good looking blonde woman in a host role seems like a pretty standard move. And Ponder has been doing sideline reporting on football for a few years, so she's way closer to the game (literally and figuratively) than Berman has been in decades.
 
Orangutan said:
Putting a good looking blonde woman in a host role seems like a pretty standard move. And Ponder has been doing sideline reporting on football for a few years, so she's way closer to the game (literally and figuratively) than Berman has been in decades.
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Sam is married to Christian Ponder, so she has that perspective.
 
Of course, I wish everyone the best. Losing a job totally sucks. It's one of the hardest things that people go through. But it can be a huge opportunity for something new and better.

I thought that ESPN and the other networks had gotten bloated with on-air talent.

Of those listed so far, I'll miss Dana O'Neil and Eamonn Brennan.
 
Wbbfan1 said:
It seems like most of the layups that I've seen announced are Reporters/Journalist behind the scenes who do the actual reporting on Sporting Events/Leagues etc. Those that Gather the News and Background stories are being let go. The talking heads for the most part are keeping their jobs, with two or three in reduced capacities. From what I've seen on Twitter just about everyone involved with Hockey with the exception of Barry Melrose have been fired. Except for possible financial savings, don't see how these layoffs make ESPN better and get back the audience share they've lost.
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Seems like you can't get your mind off of basketball ;)
 
Trent Dilfer among those laid off as well.

Bet he gets picked up by Fox Sports
 
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Running List of Laid Off ESPN Employees:

  • Pac 12 Reporter Ted Miller
  • NFL Analyst Trent Dilfer
  • Big Ten Reporter Brian Bennett
  • MLB Writer Jayson Stark
  • SEC Football Reporter David Ching
  • ESPNW Reporter Jane McManus
  • Big 12 Reporter Max Olson
  • Dodgers Reporter Doug Padilla
  • Columnist Johnette Howard
  • Radio Host Danny Kanell
  • College Basketball Reporter C.L. Brown
  • SEC Recruiting Analyst Derek Tyson
  • ESPN Dallas Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor
  • College Basketball Writer Eamonn Brennan
  • College Football Recruiting Reporter Jeremy Crabtree
  • College Football Reporter Brett McMurphy
  • Baseball Reporter Mark Saxon
  • MLB Analyst Jim Bowden
  • Big Ten Football Reporter Austin Ward
  • Wisconsin and Big Ten Football Reporter Jesse Temple
  • Soccer Writer Mike Goodman
  • ESPNU Anchor Brendan Fitzgerald
  • College Basketball Reporter Dana O’Neil
  • NHL Columnist Pierre LeBrun
  • Hockey Writer Joe McDonald
  • NHL Columnist Scott Burnside
  • NFL Reporter Ed Werder
  • Titans Reporter Paul Kuharsky
  • Houston Rockets Reporter Calvin Watkins
  • ESPNW And ESPN Chicago Columnist Melissa Isaacson
  • SportsCenter Anchor Jay Crawford
  • NBA Reporter Ethan Sherwood Strauss
The bolded names are people whose columns I have read and enjoyed on ESPN.com or whose analysis I looked forward to reading/hearing.

Very sad day for me. And another sad day for good journalism and substantive sports analysis.

Edited to add more names, as additional information about the individuals laid off has been revealed.
 
Last edited:
Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter reports that Karl Ravech, Ryen Russillo, and Hannah Storm will see their roles “significantly reduced."
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/layoffs-hit-espn-as-network-sheds-air-talent-997616

I enjoy all three, and this is another loss.

I first listened to Ryen Russillo's NBA podcast on the ESPN Radio App. He had great, substantive analysis. I did not always agree with him, but he was smart, knew the game of basketball, and knew how to give the listeners analysis and insights that even ardent basketball fans did not know.
 
CamrnCrz1974 said:
Running List of Laid Off ESPN Employees:

  • Pac 12 Reporter Ted Miller
  • NFL Analyst Trent Dilfer
  • Big Ten Reporter Brian Bennett
  • MLB Writer Jayson Stark
  • SEC Football Reporter David Ching
  • ESPNW Reporter Jane McManus
  • Big 12 Reporter Max Olson
  • Dodgers Reporter Doug Padilla
  • Columnist Johnette Howard
  • Radio Host Danny Kanell
  • College Basketball Reporter C.L. Brown
  • SEC Recruiting Analyst Derek Tyson
  • ESPN Dallas Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor
  • College Basketball Writer Eamonn Brennan
  • College Football Recruiting Reporter Jeremy Crabtree
  • College Football Reporter Brett McMurphy
  • Baseball Reporter Mark Saxon
  • MLB Analyst Jim Bowden
  • Big Ten Football Reporter Austin Ward
  • Wisconsin and Big Ten Football Reporter Jesse Temple
  • Soccer Writer Mike Goodman
  • ESPNU Anchor Brendan Fitzgerald
  • College Basketball Reporter Dana O’Neil
  • NHL Columnist Pierre LeBrun
  • Hockey Writer Joe McDonald
  • NHL Columnist Scott Burnside
  • NFL Reporter Ed Werder
  • Titans Reporter Paul Kuharsky

The bolded names are people whose columns I have read and enjoyed on ESPN.com or whose analysis I looked forward to reading/hearing.

Very sad day for me. And another sad day for good journalism and substantive sports analysis.
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Jay Crawford as well. 1st sports center host I've seen mentioned.

Jayson Stark & Ed Werder seem to be the 2 highest regarded names
 
vowelguy said:
Jay Crawford as well. 1st sports center host I've seen mentioned.

Jayson Stark & Ed Werder seem to be the 2 highest regarded names
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More names:

NFL Analyst Ashley Fox
College Basketball Analyst Len Elmore

The names I put in bold are people I respect and admire...and whose work and analysis I have always enjoyed.

I was very, very sad about many of these layoffs, UNTIL I saw Len Elmore's name. I hate to be flip or disrespectful, but I am thrilled to see Elmore getting the pink slip.
 
I have been avoiding ESPN for the most part. I can't stand their talking heads, who are so smug and so wrong so often. But it is mainly the infusion of politics that bugs me. There is a time and a place for everything. When I watch sports, I don't want any politics involved. So, ESPN, if you want me to watch, shut up with the politics. Then, maybe you don't have to lay off so many people.
 
Latest analysis on these cuts from Deadspin - http://deadspin.com/espns-latest-layoffs-are-just-a-way-to-buy-time-1794678629

upload_2017-4-26_15-21-36.png
 
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ESPN needs to reinvent themselves.... they have gotten so tired.... when i turn on the tv to one of their shows they always it seems asking for audience feedback on IS SO AND SO THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME based on good performance the day before..... Also I can bet that their lead story on any given day involves either Tom Brady, Tony Romo, LeBron James, and one or two others..... makes me want to turn to something else
 
Roger G said:
I have been avoiding ESPN for the most part. I can't stand their talking heads, who are so smug and so wrong so often. But it is mainly the infusion of politics that bugs me. There is a time and a place for everything. When I watch sports, I don't want any politics involved. So, ESPN, if you want me to watch, shut up with the politics. Then, maybe you don't have to lay off so many people.
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I guess I dont watch enough to have seen the supposed 'politics'. I never saw it during my many hours of watching.
But it doesn't matter. That's not the reason.
Their flagship program SportsCenter has become less relevant in age when you can watch highlights anytime at the push of a button.
Because of its high carriage fees, ESPN was getting a lot more of its revenue from subscribers than other cable channels. As a result, when subscriber numbers started falling, ESPN was especially exposed.
 
vowelguy said:
Saving a bunch of money is not a good reason?

ESPN is in a bad spot right now. They've overpaid for content. And revenues are weakening as more folks cut the cord. They need to cut costs somewhere.
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Conveniently, the article addresses that exact point:

upload_2017-4-26_16-44-18.png
 
Orangutan said:
Conveniently, the article addresses that exact point:

View attachment 21967
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But they can't fix the contracts until renewal time. They can control other expenses now. Companies that are struggling will cut to the bone to save any kind of money -- I know I've seen it many times.

Did Deadspin write a similar article 2 years ago when ESPN cut 300 workers? Or was it ok then because it was no on-air talent?
 
vowelguy said:
But they can't fix the contracts until renewal time. They can control other expenses now. Companies that are struggling will cut to the bone to save any kind of money -- I know I've seen it many times.

Did Deadspin write a similar article 2 years ago when ESPN cut 300 workers? Or was it ok then because it was no on-air talent?
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Maybe it was 4 years ago? I found this article - http://deadspin.com/source-espn-laying-off-hundreds-509043249

I get what you are saying, but cutting a bunch of beat writers to cover their financial issues seems like using band-aids to fix bullet holes.
 
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I hate it when good people who had nothing to do with ESPN's issues are laid-off and jobless. This is always sad and unfortunate. However, most will likely land on their feet, as they are talented and have something of quality and value to offer the marketplace.

However, even as a CT native and taxpayer, I cannot and will not shed any tear for ESPN. They have repeatedly screwed over UCONN in every which way possible and their backhanded dealings and actions have been directly responsible for the conference predicament that UCONN is currently in.

ESPN has continually taken HUGE tax incentives to stay in CT and would leave CT at the drop of a hat if the tax incentives / tax breaks were not there. They have no loyalty to CT at all and this shows in how they have treated and acted towards UCONN.

I listen to ESPN radio a lot and have heard numerous on air pot shots at Bristol and CT as a whole.
 
Seems like this is the classic media move - cut lots of content providing employees and try to get by on glitz. What got ESPN going and kept them at the top was the breadth and depth of their coverage, including the only sports company that took WCBB seriously. So now they are cutting back on the providers of that depth, while keeping most of the bloated talking heads that are going to have less to talk about without the rank and file providing them with info.
 
vowelguy said:
Saving a bunch of money is not a good reason?

ESPN is in a bad spot right now. They've overpaid for content. And revenues are weakening as more folks cut the cord. They need to cut costs somewhere.
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Take the ten highest paid employees no matter who they are, and fire all ten.
 
I was a Trent Kilfer fan and from herein I'm going to miss every dime he brought to the table.
 
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MilfordHusky said:
I didn't realize that Hannah announced both. She's the Walter Cronkite of her generation.

I believe she is married to Dan Hicks of NBC.
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You can find the video on line. The Saunders announcement was a class act. I don't know how she held it together. i wanted to press 'like' for your post but it didn't seem appropriate.
 
Talking head television is cheaper to produce than sports afield. Of course, if you overpay the talking heads, you can make those productions expensive and unprofitable too.

Some have asked "why this?" or "why now?" There is a shareholders meeting upcoming, and the ESPN brass want to look like they are "doing something." Being bold. Taking charge. Use whatever business school jabber you want. It is all just a corporate illusion.

ESPN needs to re-negotiate those rights fees, like yesterday. The cuts today are painful for those involved and most assuredly will not put the company in the black or any zip code close to the black.
 
The problem with ESPN and UConn has always been the fact that they are overloaded with cuse grads. Cuse is always overrated and it is catching up with ESPN. That and way too much emphasis on football.
 
Puppy Love said:
You can find the video on line. The Saunders announcement was a class act. I don't know how she held it together. i wanted to press 'like' for your post but it didn't seem appropriate.
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Thanks. I understand--it's awkward to like posts involving negative news. A like often means gratitude for relaying the info--and not perverse pleasure over someones demise. ;)
 
vowelguy said:
I guess I dont watch enough to have seen the supposed 'politics'. I never saw it during my many hours of watching.
But it doesn't matter. That's not the reason.
Their flagship program SportsCenter has become less relevant in age when you can watch highlights anytime at the push of a button.
Because of its high carriage fees, ESPN was getting a lot more of its revenue from subscribers than other cable channels. As a result, when subscriber numbers started falling, ESPN was especially exposed.
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Here's some of the "supposed" politics. Call them what you will.
On Same Day Massive Layoffs Begin, ESPNW Celebrates Black Power Icon and Fugitive Cop Killer
 
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