ESPN’s latest round of layoffs could happen in ‘the next four to six weeks’ with everyone ‘at risk’

According to a report, ESPN’s latest round of layoffs looming could leave everyone from the top to the bottom at risk.

The cuts are part of unit-wide layoffs announced by Bob Iger, chief executive of Disney, ESPN’s parent company.

Iger had previously announced 7,000 layoffs company-wide, with the first wave of 4,000 reportedly coming in the coming weeks as he seeks to save the company some $5.5 billion.

This round of layoffs within ESPN will have “no sacred cows,” and even the best on-air talent and big producers will be at risk within the next four to six weeks, according to The New York Post.

dailymail.com has reached out to ESPN for comment.

ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro has reportedly told all department heads to look at their divisions to make them as efficient as possible.

There is said to be no target number for how many employees will be laid off or how much ESPN must save.

The sports network giant has spent heavily in recent years on its on-air talent, including $18 million per year on MNF commentator Troy Aikman, $15 million per year on sportscaster Joe Buck and $12 million for year at popular analyst Stephen A. Smith.

The company is still looking to increase spending to add Pat McAfee’s popular podcast show to its ranks, according to the report.

The YouTuber and sports analyst may be about to end his $120 million, four-year contract with FanDuel, just a year after partnering with the sports betting company.

McAfee, 35, is currently three months into the second year of his contract with the online sportsbook, and is said to only want to walk away from sponsorship if he “knows where it will land”, according to the new york post office.

It is reported to be in talks with other companies, including Amazon, according to the sources. While Partnerships with Google, YouTube, which just struck a big deal for NFL Sunday Ticket, or Apple are also reported possibilities.

ESPN is also said to be embroiled in negotiations with college football national championship game caller Chris Fowler, who reportedly makes around $3 million per year.

The two sides are reportedly far apart in negotiations, but the broadcasting titan is said to want to retain Fowler and perhaps even offer him a slight raise since he’s his main college football and Grand tennis voice. slam.

But it won’t offer you the same mega-money deals as the likes of Buck, Aikman or Smith.

Those believed to be the most vulnerable among airborne personnel are those earning close to or more than seven figures, but “they are not considered to be needle movers,” according to the report.

Meanwhile, Smith, late-night SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt and the Monday Night Football booth are seen as “untouchables.”

Despite seeking cutbacks, ESPN remains a huge source of revenue for Disney, raking in three-quarters of a billion dollars a month before a single ad thanks to the 74 million households that pay about $10 a month for the network. .

His new streaming service ESPN+ reportedly has 24.9 million subscribers at a cost of $9.99 per month.

In recent years, ESPN has spent heavily on sports rights, notably in 2021 when it agreed to pay the NFL $2.7 billion a season for two Super Bowls, and also flexible scheduling on MNF, which begins this year.

Although it remains the world’s leading sports media, during the same period ESPN has not been immune to layoffs.

In 2015, ESPN, which until then had avoided the cuts that had become part of the media for decades, faced 300 layoffs in behind-the-scenes staff.

In 2017, another 250 people were laid off, including stars like Ron Jaworski, Marc Stein, and Trent Dilfer.

Finally, in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, ESPN laid off 300 employees and opted not to fill 200 positions.