ESPN prepares for a round of large layoffs. Plus: Shaq has hip surgery, Goodell gets an extension, and more sports media news.
ESPN prepares for massive layoffs, far apart on Fowler extension
A report from New York Post columnist Andrew Marchand reveals that ESPN is planning to layoff a large amount of staff in the next four to six weeks, with no “sacred cows” – meaning everybody is under scrutiny. The moves will be part of Disney CEO Bob Iger’s recent announcement that Disney plans to layoff 7,000 employees across all business units. The report did not state if there was a target number for ESPN layoffs, only that departments there have been told to “scrutinize their divisions to make them as efficient as possible.” Despite the no “sacred cows” mentality, Marchand reports that high end talent like Stephen A. Smith, Scott van Pelt, and the Monday Night Football broadcast booth of Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, are safe.
The news comes at a time when ESPN and current college football and tennis Grand Slam lead Chris Fowler are in protracted contract negotiations, with the two sides considered far apart. The report indicates that ESPN would like to keep Fowler, who currently makes $3 million, but not at a substantially higher rate. Previously, ESPN laid off 300 and 250 employees in 2015 and 2017, respectively, including big on screen personalities such as Ron Jaworski, Trent Dilfer and Marc Stein. (Marchand 3.20)
Shaq has hip replacement surgery
TNT NBA basketball analyst and NBA hall of famer Shaquille O’Neal recently underwent a hip replacement surgery to fix a minor issue. O’Neal previously announced he was undertaking the procedure to fix a nagging issue with his hip on his podcast The Big Podcast with Shaq. The surgery coincides with TNT’s reduced NBA coverage during March Madness. On the podcast, O’Neal mentioned April 16 as the target date for when he would get back to TV work, but there hasn’t been a follow up announcement since undergoing surgery. (TMZ 3.20)
Roger Goodell extension
An Adam Schefter report found that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will have his contract extension finalized by the end of March. The terms of the deal are unknown, but the sides had previously discussed a three-year extension. The contract is likely to be the highest paid deal for a commissioner of any sport. Goodell, who currently makes $63.9 million annually according to a New York Times report, is poised to capitalize on his recent successes of negotiating a new CBA with the NFLPA, as well as over $100 billion in media rights deals. This will be Goodell’s fourth extension and likely his last. Schefter’s report indicates that there will be a large emphasis on identifying Goodell’s, 64, successor after his extension gets finalized. (Schefter 3.20)
Plus: Rosenberg out, St. Francis Brooklyn cuts all athletic programs, and Kay signs with ESPN
After three years, Steve Rosenberg is out as Diamond Sports Group president. Diamond Sports Group recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as they struggle to make their Bally Sports RSN’s profitable. … St. Francis College in Brooklyn, a member of Division I’s Northeast Conference, announced that they are eliminating their athletic department following the conclusion of the current academic semester. … Michael Kay has decided against retiring, opting to return to his ESPN New York show with a new seven figure per annum deal instead. (Sports Business Journal 3.20, NY Post 3.20, Marchand 3.16)
