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[Patryn]

The long-rumored round of layoffs that would include on-air talent is happening today.

The first notable casualty? Ed Werder:

As many are aware, ESPN has been hit very, very hard by cord cutters due to the oversized fees it charges cable and satellite providers. Combine that with recent spates of overpaying for live sports rights, and it's been inevitable that at some point they'd have to massively cut back. Previous layoff rounds had mostly spared the talent, but today's the day that everyone pays the piper.

Scott Burnside who covers hockey just got fired. As well as Joe McDonald

Just fired LeBrun too

 

[ratcliffja]

I always liked Ed but I guess he wasn't enough of a personality to avoid the cuts.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

I always liked Ed but I guess he wasn't enough of a personality to avoid the cuts.

Apparently some big names are on the chopping block.

 

[The Jackdog]

Funny, I was watching draft coverage last night.

The over-the-top presentation, the massive amount of staff on camera which has to be coupled with a ton of staff off camera, the drawn out overly long show, the completely ridiculous studio in which every shot has at least 60 sq feet of empty space...

couldnt help but think "this isnt gonna last"

 

[Chase17]

Fox Sports to go on hiring spree?

/s

 

[lazygecko]

I never really gave any thought on what the future of sports broadcasting would be like in the new fragmented online media landscape. Is there even any potential for smaller/solo independant outlets to flourish like in other venues of entertainment?

 

[BoogieWoogie]

I guess ESPN will just start playing sports themed movies 24/7.

 

[Soapbox Killer]

Time for espn to go long on e-sports.

 

[The Jackdog]

Fox Sports to go on hiring spree?

probably, considering im pretty sure they are getting smoked too though idk

 

[Brandson]

They could always try to change with the times, like offering a paid service without a cable subscription, but I guess they would rather die a slow death instead. Surely at some point they have to accept that their business model conflicts with how potential customers are willing to access their content.

 

[Frozenprince]

Apparently some big names are on the chopping block.

I can imagine they can afford all these daily talk shows anymore.

One or two have got to go. Without SVP I think Rusillo goes.

 

[Sulik2]

I never really gave any thought on what the future of sports broadcasting would be like in the new fragmented online media landscape. Is there even any potential for smaller/solo independant outlets to flourish like in other venues of entertainment?

It will go more and more towards leagues broadcasting their own stuff. NFL Network, NBA Network, Big 10 Network, etc... With their own websites and apps.

 

[McBryBry]

As long as they keep Herm I'm good. Herm's the man.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

As many are aware, ESPN has been hit very, very hard by cord cutters due to the oversized fees it charges cable and satellite providers. Combine that with recent spates of overpaying for live sports rights, and it's been inevitable that at some point they'd have to massively cut back. Previous layoff rounds had mostly spared the talent, but today's the day that everyone pays the piper.

I'd argue it's more a lack of evolution in their product than anything else. With the rise of MLB.com & Network it's easy to see how ESPN the Network began to really fall behind in their coverage. Their sportscenter coverage was more akin to CNN/MSNBC than an actual sports recap show, especially with the lack of balance in their presentation of highlights.

Lets also not forget that cord-nevers who never really utilized or relied on ESPN for their sports news like some of us did when we were younger. The depth of coverage out of enthusiast sites for leagues and teams far outclasses anything ESPN could put forward.

You can only get by for so long with college football and monday night football before it all catches up

 

[ryan299]

Scott Burnside who covers hockey just got fired. As well as Joe McDonald

 

[The Jackdog]

i guess this will be a good indication of the direction they are gonna go right?

Stick to double down on debate shows, where people just yell at eachother

Or get back to analysis.

They cant compete on news. Theyll always get scooped by 500 reporters on twitter.

 

[Luschient]

As the cord-cutting trend continues it'll be interesting to see if each of the major sports just rolls out their own app (ala MLB Network) and you'll have to get that if you want to see any of the games, thus ending channels like ESPN, Fox Sports, etc.

 

[Future PhaZe]

they should have played hardball more on broadcasting rights negotiations--the costs are way out of control--sports just keep raising broadcasting right fees significantly meanwhile more people are cutting cords

 

[cartographer]

Ed Werder also tweeted that his sick dog is dying, so he's having a great day.

They could always try to change with the times, like offering a paid service without a cable subscription, but I guess they would rather die a slow death instead. Surely at some point they have to accept that their business model conflicts with how potential customers are willing to access their content.

They would still have to make massive cuts to stay profitable. They owe a lot of money for broadcast rights. The difference isn't likely to be made up with a stand alone service.

 

[Carnby]

Hopefully this means Coach is gone too.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

As the cord-cutting trend continues it'll be interesting to see if each of the major sports just rolls out their own app (ala MLB Network) and you'll have to get that if you want to see any of the games, thus ending channels like ESPN, Fox Sports, etc.

ESPN, FS1 don't carry local games. Until local market rules go away you will still see a need for cable subscriptions to get sports.

 

[Fail State]

As long as they keep Herm I'm good. Herm's the man.

Yes, Herm has a remarkable grasp of the obvious.

 

[Plinko]

Scott Burnside who covers hockey just got fired. As well as Joe McDonald

Of course. ESPN is trash at covering hockey.

 

[Amory]

I feel bad for people losing their jobs. But ESPN needs to get back to its roots and just show highlights.

They're really a terrible channel these days. If they didn't carry so many of the games themselves, I'd never turn them on.

 

[TS-08]

I can imagine they can afford all these daily talk shows anymore.

One or two have got to go. Without SVP I think Rusillo goes.

I would imagine the radio shows are among the cheapest things they produce. They also shouldn't be as impacted by changing cable habits.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

I feel bad for people losing their jobs. But ESPN needs to get back to its roots and just show highlights.

They're really a terrible channel these days. If they didn't carry so many of the games themselves, I'd never turn them on.

MLB and NHL network have negated any need for relying on ESPN for highlights if you're a fan of those leagues.

 

[Frozenprince]

As the cord-cutting trend continues it'll be interesting to see if each of the major sports just rolls out their own app (ala MLB Network) and you'll have to get that if you want to see any of the games, thus ending channels like ESPN, Fox Sports, etc.

The league's are dreading the cable bubble bursting.

It's where most of the money they make comes from.

ESPN going under would scare them shitless because it's the beginning of the end for a lot of owners and teams. The model for all the leagues sans baseball are not bulearked against this coming apart.

 

[Velcro Fly]

I don't remember the last time I sat down and watched a non sports game/match show on ESPN.

My one year in college I lived in the dorms our dining court would always have ESPN on. It was cool to watch NFL highlights monday morning at breakfast.

But seriously I just can't stand it most of the time.

 

[TheLetdown]

Brent Mussberger when?

And I have a hate/hate relationship with Danny Kannel. He can go.

 

[Sephzilla]

If Werder was chopped then the lower level guys like Coachman should be worried

 

[xDUMPWEEDx]

The over-the-top presentation, the massive amount of staff on camera which has to be coupled with a ton of staff off camera, the drawn out overly long show, the completely ridiculous studio in which every shot has at least 60 sq feet of empty space...

I have always hated their new set they went to a few years back. It is just a massive, dark, cold, room. The old set was much smaller, with brighter colors, with closer cameras.

 

[Anth0ny]

fire coach please

 

[BigAT]

Scott Burnside who covers hockey just got fired. As well as Joe McDonald

Honestly surprised ESPN employs anyone for hockey anymore considering how little time they devote to it.

 

[Fail State]

I wonder how many millions upon millions of dollars they wasted in their sad attempt to recreate what TNT has with their basketball studio show.

 

[Amory]

MLB and NHL network have negated any need for relying on ESPN for highlights if you're a fan of those leagues.

I wish SportsCenter was still exactly that, a place to see sports highlights from all of the major sports in one place with good on-air personalities.

I don't want to have to go to the NHL, MLB, NBA networks and the Golf Channel to see highlights. It's a pain in the ass.

But SportsCenter these days is just a bunch of interviews no one gives a shit about, human interest pieces, a bunch of fantasy sports bullshit, etc. Everything but sports.

 

[Justified]

Crazy they are laying people off when they were just trying to get Skip to stay for millions.

 

[old]

I'd argue it's more a lack of evolution in their product than anything else. With the rise of MLB.com & Network it's easy to see how ESPN the Network began to really fall behind in their coverage. Their sportscenter coverage was more akin to CNN/MSNBC than an actual sports recap show, especially with the lack of balance in their presentation of highlights.

Lets also not forget that cord-nevers who never really utilized or relied on ESPN for their sports news like some of us did when we were younger. The depth of coverage out of enthusiast sites for leagues and teams far outclasses anything ESPN could put forward.

You can only get by for so long with college football and monday night football before it all catches up

There's also people in smaller markets who don't care for the 24/7 coverage of Jets, Yankees, Lakers, Cowboys...etc. ESPN heavily skews toward major market teams often ignoring smaller market teams. On top of that, there is also the habit of giving reduced coverage to any sport they don't have a tv deal with.

ESPN has made themselves obsolete because they left so many holes in their news coverage. Eventually people found better alternatives online.

 

[hitme]

If one of my favorite anchor is gone, hopefully she can come back to our region and cover our teams again.

I won't name her because her Twitter feed told me not to. :/

 

[TS-08]

MLB and NHL network have negated any need for relying on ESPN for highlights if you're a fan of those leagues.

I think there is something to be said for getting the main highlights and info from every major sport in one place. Like, I don't follow hockey closely at all, but I used to know much more about it when I would actually watch Sportscenter. I'd prefer to have a show I could watch in an hour and get the gist of the sports world at large. Then I could watch the programming that catered more to what I liked.

 

[ryan299]

Just fired LeBrun too

 

[jwhit28]

I think any talent like Rusillo or Kanell who can do their own show and then go be a guest on NBA Tonight or College Football Live are the type they will keep. Versatility is the key.

 

[cartographer]

Brent Mussberger when?

And I have a hate/hate relationship with Danny Kannel. He can go.

There's always a need for somebody with no shame to fellate the NCAA or dogwhistle about young black men, so I imagine Kannel is safe.

 

[Patryn]

Hollywood Reporter is reporting that some people will just see their roles reduced:

Other ESPN personalities are seeing their roles "significantly reduced," a person with knowledge of the situation told The Hollywood Reporter. They include Baseball Tonight's Karl Ravitch, ESPN Radio's Ryen Russillo and Hannah Storm, who has been a mainstay at ESPN for a decade and hosted various iterations of flagship SportsCenter,

 

[Sephzilla]

Crazy they are laying people off when they were just trying to get Skip to stay for millions.

Because Skip was part of one of their highest rated shows

 

[H3xum]

Just fired LeBrun too

So yeah, I guess that is it for ESPN Hockey

 

[Maxim726X]

As long as Kornheiser and Wilbon stay, fuck the rest.

... Except maybe SVP. He's coo.

 

[bodyofanamerican]

Hoping LeBatard stays and hope Stephen A. doesn't let the door hit him on the way out.

 

[Pastry]

My brother put on PTI as we were driving to the game last night and good fucking lord I can't believe I used to watch that regularly. Just constant non-stop obnoxious yelling.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

I think there is something to be said for getting the main highlights and info from every major sport in one place. Like, I don't follow hockey closely at all, but I used to know much more about it when I would actually watch Sportscenter. I'd prefer to have a show I could watch in an hour and get the gist of the sports world at large. Then I could watch the programming that catered more to what I liked.

That's exactly the problem with ESPN though and why, for me, I value MLB & NHL network more.

 

[Violence Jack]

Ed Werder? Really?

They better not dare touch PTI though.

All of these ESPN losses is going to prop up Fox Sports.