(Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for ESPN)
For years, ESPN has led the sports broadcast industry, with some of the most prominent NFL, NBA, and radio personalities on Earth showcasing their talents there.
Now, in hopes of significantly reducing their payroll, they’re expected to let go of around 20 on-air personalities as early as Friday afternoon, according to a report by Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.
NEWS: ESPN is laying off around 20 on-air personalities today, including some of its longtime stars, The Post has learned.
Story: https://t.co/CnOzvQbBKm
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) June 30, 2023
This isn’t anything new, as some of the top NBA, radio, and NFL personalities were rumored to be on their way out, and the company informed all of their employees on Friday morning about this move.
Some of the top NFL, NBA, and ESPN Radio personalities are anticipated to be told that they will no longer be on the network’s many platforms beginning Friday, according to sources.
Needless to say, some of their prime employees will still be a part of the network, but some prominent on-air characters are expected to be let go, some of them despite spending decades at ESPN.
Monday Night Football’s Suzy Kobler and Steve Young are expected to be let go, as well as Max Kellerman and Keyshawn Johnson.
Stephen A. Smith, and Joe Buck, among others, are in the clear.
Disney — ESPN’s parent company — had already announced its goal of getting rid of 7,000 jobs, hoping to cut back expenses by letting go of those who make at least one million and ‘save money for those who work behind the scenes.’
It’ll be interesting to see how they reshape their programming, and this decision will be heavily discussed for months.
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