The economic downturn has taken its latest victim.
ESPN has announced that it will institute a hiring freeze for the remainder of 2009, except to replace departing employees. As a result, the network will cut as many as 200 currently unfilled jobs. While the job cuts will affect positions that are currently unfilled, ESPN has “not [ruled] out layoffs.”
Deadspin reports that “[t]here have been rumors about some familiar faces at [ESPN] possibly not getting re-upped for their contract this year, but nothing definitive yet.”
In addition to the hiring freeze, ESPN will also “implement a freeze on … executive pay raises.”
In an address to employees, ESPN President George Bodenheimer acknowledges that “economic realities have forced us to make some difficult decisions.” Bodenheimer: “The economy is worsening, and ESPN and our business partners – especially some of our major advertisers – are feeling the impact more acutely than at any point in our lifetime. … None of this is easy, but the responsible management of our company demands that we take the necessary steps now to safeguard our future and better prepare us for the challenges ahead.”
In a separate move, the Walt Disney Company announced that it will cut 400 jobs from its television division, resulting in 200 layoffs and the elimination of 200 positions that had been unfilled.
