ESPN lets go of prominent names in round of layoffs
NEW YORK — ESPN is laying off about 100 employees, including former athletes-turned-broadcasters Trent Dilfer, Len Elmore and Danny Kanell, in a purge designed to focus the sports network on a more digital future.
The cuts will trim ESPN’s stable of on-air talent and writers by about 10 percent.
The 36-year-old network has been squeezed by rising fees to broadcast live events at the same time millions of cord-cutting TV viewers have been canceling their cable and satellite subscriptions.
ESPN chief John Skipper said Wednesday the company wants to provide distinctive content all the time on multiple screens, with more personality-oriented “SportsCenter” broadcasts, and is keeping people best suited to the new strategy.
ESPN isn’t saying who has been fired. Many are releasing the news on social media, including Dilfer, NFL reporter Ed Werder, baseball reporter Jayson Stark, and college basketball reporter Dana O’Neil.
Former morning host Jay Crawford, football columnist Jane McManus, ESPNU host Brendan Fitzgerald, auto racing and college football commentator Jerry Punch, college football reporter Brett McMurphy, hockey reporter Pierre LeBrun, soccer reporter Mike Goodman, baseball analyst Jim Bowden and baseball reporter Mark Saxon were among the others to announce their departures.
The layoffs also included a number of SportsCenter anchors, including Jade McCarthy, Jaymee Sire, Chris Hassel and Darren Haynes.
“Our goal continues to be to maximize our unparalleled scale in every medium with storytelling that stands out and makes a difference,” Skipper said in a memo to employees. “We are well-equipped to thrive going forward by embracing those themes.”