💬 ESPN Layoffs: Tebow has contract extended by ESPN

[TerryP]

So, I did a little research on her replacement..if you have absolutely nothing else to do check out Michelle Beadle's Twitter feed.

I haven't looked at that. I do find her entertaining. She's a weird one. Entertaining, though. Colin Cowherd owes a bit of where he is due to her personality. Hell, a lot. IIRC that was his first TV gig.

 

[planomateo]

Here is AT&T stating some hard numbers, 233k lost in a quarter. They aren't sharing the number of DirecTV Now customers.

AT&T Continues to Lose Phone Subscribers

AT&T, the biggest U.S. pay-television operator after its $49 billion acquisition of DirecTV, reported its linear video business lost 233,000 customers in the quarter. The company said gains in the DirecTV Now streaming service helped offset the linear TV subscriber decline.

 

[TerryP]

Here is AT&T stating some hard numbers, 233k lost in a quarter. They aren't sharing the number of DirecTV Now customers.

AT&T Continues to Lose Phone Subscribers

The key there is "linear viewers." That doesn't allow viewers to watch what they want, when they want. Options like Xfinity are running away from the competition with On Demand viewing options.

 

[TerryP]

In other news ...

'Bloodbath' in Bristol: ESPN could cut 70 people

This doesn't shock me, but it should be eye-opening for the execs.

 

[Bobby Kunz]

Jemele Hill needs to be on the short list of cuts. She is awful and leader of any political talks on ESPN.

 

[PurlJam]

Guys... CBS golf is where it's at.....:naughtydevil:

 

[TUSKtimes]

It feels like ESPN has gone from must see to who cares. The content is bad, not so much the folks telling the tale. Nothing they are selling feels fresh and exciting anymore. I doubt seriously if these latest cutbacks solve what's ailing them.

 

[TerryP]

The content is bad, not so much the folks telling the tale

:clap:

Although, some of the folks are just as bad.

 

[planomateo]

Reminds me of MTV back in the day. Music videos vs everything else.

 

[planomateo]

But linear viewers more than likely equates to ESPN subscribers, which could have an net loss of $24M+ to ESPN per year.

The key there is "linear viewers." That doesn't allow viewers to watch what they want, when they want. Options like Xfinity are running away from the competition with On Demand viewing options.

Cutting 100+ of 1000+. Seriously, they have/had 1000 people in the "on-air talent" department (for lack of a better word), WOW!

 

[TUSKtimes]

I guess too late to get in on the over/under on who gets the pink slip?

 

[It Takes Eleven]

ESPN is just another entertainment network. I'll watch a game when it interests me, but I'm about 15 years beyond intentionally tuning into any of their shows. I can read the news quicker and more completely, without having to listen a marginally informed opinion, or heaven forbid what social media is staying about anything.

 

[TUSKtimes]

After 17 years reporting on #NFL, I've been informed that I'm being laid off by ESPN effective immediately. I have no plans to retire
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) April 26, 2017​

Paul Kuharsky, who covered the Tennessee Titans for ESPN.com, also announced he had been laid off earlier in the week.

Knew cuts were coming. Sad to say nine great years at ESPN end for me in July. Please stay tuned to @Midday180.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) April 24, 2017​

 

[TerryP]

But linear viewers more than likely equates to ESPN subscribers, which could have an net loss of $24M+ to ESPN per year.

I don't know if that's the case, Matt. Non-linear would cover WatchESPN/ESPN3/ESPNON would it not? (I don't know what's offered on ESPNON, never bothered to look. I'm assuming shows like PTI, etc.)

Cutting 100+ of 1000+. Seriously, they have/had 1000 people in the "on-air talent" department (for lack of a better word), WOW!

1000+ isn't a surprising number to me. One reporter per NFL team gives 32, one per NBA team and now we're around 70. I suspect "on-air talent" includes production as well.

 

[TerryP]

"Our objective in all we do is to best serve fans and their changing consumption habits while still maintaining an unparalleled and diverse talent roster that resonates with fans across all our platforms. We will continue to foster creativity and investment in the products and resources necessary to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead." - ESPN MediaZone release: Message to employees

"In addition, Hannah Storm, “Baseball Tonight” host Karl Ravech and ESPN Radio’s Ryen Russillo will have their roles “significantly reduced,” a source told The Hollywood Reporter." -- NY Post reports

Storm, Ravech, and Russillo were all very good at their jobs in my opinion. Cutting their air-time isn't "best serving the fans."

**Just caught a blurb about B1G network employees getting cut as well. No issues there. Of course, I can't say if I've ever watched that network for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

 

[TUSKtimes]

"Our objective in all we do is to best serve fans and their changing consumption habits while still maintaining an unparalleled and diverse talent roster that resonates with fans across all our platforms. We will continue to foster creativity and investment in the products and resources necessary to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead." - ESPN MediaZone release: Message to employees

"In addition, Hannah Storm, “Baseball Tonight” host Karl Ravech and ESPN Radio’s Ryen Russillo will have their roles “significantly reduced,” a source told The Hollywood Reporter." -- NY Post reports

Storm, Ravech, and Russillo were all very good at their jobs in my opinion. Cutting their air-time isn't "best serving the fans."

**Just caught a blurb about B1G network employees getting cut as well. No issues there. Of course, I can't say if I've ever watched that network for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

So far it looks like the ones getting a little long in the tooth are getting weeded out or demoted. Berman probably knew this stuff was about to hit the wall again when they suggested a lesser role for Mr. ESPN himself. Russillo did call out his bosses recently by suggesting they were promoting a more liberal agenda.

 

[TerryP]

Russillo did call out his bosses recently by suggesting they were promoting a more liberal agenda.

Missed that. On his radio show I'm assuming?

 

[TUSKtimes]

Missed that. On his radio show I'm assuming?

Sports Talk Host Ryen Russillo Trashes Colleagues for Ruining ...

 

[TerryP]

Sports Talk Host Ryen Russillo Trashes Colleagues for Ruining ...

@Birdman37 That fits with the conversation we were having here a month, month and a half ago.

What I fail to understand is why a lot of these sports personalities think people want to know how they feel about social and political issues. Hell, there are a handful of sports reporters I've "unfollowed" on Twitter because I didn't want to know what they thought about some random TV show--Russ Mitchell being one.

 

[TerryP]

Not a big loss for SECN as far as I'm concerned.