(10-27-2017 10:38 AM)murrdcu Wrote: Quote:The next round of cutbacks could come down in late November or early December, with 40-60 positions potentially being impacted, according to sources. The layoffs could hit both on-air TV/radio talent and behind-the-scenes production staffers.
"This time it won't matter if you're 'liked' or not. It's not going to be pretty," one source warned.
Another source expects the flagship "SportsCenter" franchise to lose people in front of and behind the camera. "I see (ESPN) going down a path where they have less staff — and hire more production companies to provide programs and fill air time."
Quote:ESPN is not the only media company downsizing in a challenging, changing economy. Media organizations ranging from Fox to Sports Illustrated have laid off staffers.
ESPN overpaid for NFL and NBA sports rights at the same time it was losing 12 million subscribers due to cord-cutting. Those millions in lost subscriber revenue, while still paying the fixed cost of TV rights deals, are driving the continuing layoffs, according to sources.
"I know it's a tough job but it was somebody's job to see the future — and they didn't," a source said. "Now viewers are going one way, costs are going the other, and nobody did the math."
http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports...g26kdwl7nd
It's gonna hit the fan again.
Overpaying for TV rights while model changes and subscriptions drastically decline.
This will make any college football expansion difficult to get network approval unless it dramatically improves content value. Also makes one wonder about the Longhorn Network's near and long term future.
There are many ways to look at this. It's not just cord cutting. People are sick of having the political issues foisted upon them while they are trying to enjoy one of their escapes from the screwed up world in which they live. ESPN has become a steady drumbeat of political propaganda.
The NFL anthem issue is a turn off. And basketball hit the skids a few years back in the ratings.
People are tired of supporting things they no longer believe in, and people they believe are eroding their quality of their lives, or their beliefs.
That said, they are shifting their emphasis to production. I believe they will want more rights so they can broker them at a profit to whoever it is that desires to stream them.
They will also look to enhance their most profitable offerings and to sell off or close down the money losers.
So a short term push for Texas and Oklahoma might be in order as the SECN is most profitable for them. I would think that their overall reach should be to try to regain the Big 10 product. The ACC and PAC are the two for which they only need a piece. With the Big 12 out of the way they can maximize profits by pitting the SEC and Big 10 against one another.
The "big money" is probably now history, especially with FOX feeling the pinch as well. The streamers will not want a full slate of conference games. They will want access to the best games of the week or product to fill niche markets they service.
If they get better play by play guys in the booth and drop the chatty Cathy's who talk about celebs, or politics, or some issue none of us give a hoot about and actually talk about the play in front of them it will be a godsend. Hey, they might even know the names of the schools that are playing?
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Sporting News: Major ESPN layoffs Nov-Dec; 40-60 more
