Disney is preparing to lay off 4,000 employees across its divisions, with cable sports giant ESPN expected to be significantly impacted. Insiders claim that no one is safe, with the layoffs being a part of Disney CEO Bob Iger’s $5.5 billion budget cut plan. The move comes as Disney faces box office failures, streaming service losses and political setbacks due to its left-leaning policies in Florida.
ESPN’s chairman, Jimmy Pitaro, has instructed department heads to identify employees considered “redundant and disposable.” The network’s on-air personalities are reportedly the most vulnerable. No specific targets for savings or employee cuts have been set. ESPN has declined to comment on the matter.
Chickens coming home to roost at woke, Disney-owned ESPN. https://t.co/e1JFeDccUt
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) March 20, 2023
The company has previously faced layoffs, including 350 workers in 2015 and 300 in 2020. It has also lost 10% of its subscribers in the past year, with a total decline of 8 million customers since 2020. Despite these setbacks, ESPN still generates significant revenue for Disney, earning three-quarters of a billion dollars per month even before selling advertisements. ESPN+ has 24.9 million subscribers, charging $9.99 monthly or offering a bundle deal with Hulu and Disney+.
Iger has hinted that ESPN could eventually go “direct-to-consumer,” although no specific date has been set. This change would allow cord-cutters to access ESPN’s complete programming while offering it on cable and satellite platforms. Despite the network’s continued success and an 8% increase in ratings year-to-year, layoffs have become a regular part of the ESPN experience.
ESPN is planning mass layoffs. Which on-air personalities could they cut?
Last time, the layoffs were almost exclusively white males.
"Anyone with the race card at their disposal is safe."https://t.co/rZxCztxZve
— OutKick (@Outkick) March 20, 2023
As the network tightens its belt, some highly-paid employees are in complex contract negotiations. For example, Chris Fowler, the college football national championship game play-by-play announcer, is reportedly far apart in negotiations with ESPN. The network wishes to retain Fowler, but a substantial pay increase seems unlikely.
In recent years, ESPN has spent heavily on top commentators, signing Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, and Stephen A. Smith to lucrative contracts. However, as part of the budget cut directive from Disney, the network is expected to reduce its spending on new programming and marketing.
The layoffs and financial struggles faced by ESPN can be seen as a consequence of the network’s progressive policies and its inability to adapt quickly to the changing media landscape. As the network faces mounting challenges, it must balance maintaining its core values and staying competitive in an increasingly crowded market.
As the layoffs loom, ESPN’s future remains uncertain. The network must navigate the complex terrain of budget cuts, political setbacks, and a rapidly changing media environment. With no sacred cows and no timetable set for a direct-to-consumer transition, ESPN’s challenges serve as a cautionary tale for other corporations grappling with the cost of woke policies and the need for adaptability in the face of change.
https://www.youtube.com/live/B7_BQ6PZsyM
