# ESPN Layoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 26, 2017, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330 "2017-04-26T23:29:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/21 "2017-04-27T23:15:43Z")
Hmmm…Ethan Strauss was essentially the Warriors beat reporter. Apparently even the writers for currently popular teams are taking hits. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/22 "2017-04-28T02:23:01Z")
That’s on him, IYAM. He should have diversified, like Windhorst did. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/23 "2017-04-28T13:17:51Z")
If ESPN keeps bleeding three million subscribers per year, that’s almost $200 million in annual revenue declines from subscriptions alone. Disney just made $1.3 billion in the last quarter so they’re ok for a while but the commitments to broadcast rights of live events is scheduled to continue to increase. At some point in time, this becomes a serious profitability problem. Ad revenues for games will decline, too, if cable eyeballs drop. I don’t see how the current model can continue for substantially longer but I have no idea what will take its place. If leagues can’t command the types of ever-increasing fees to which they’ve become accustomed, however, we will be in for some very interesting times. I think it was covered in another thread but the surprising ratings decline suffered by the NFL (and others) last year may also portend a general change of viewing habits by the American public. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/24 "2017-04-28T14:04:57Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised if the ratings decline is a part of everything, but, so far, it’s only a one year anomaly. Let’s see how this NFL season pans out in the ratings before we put too much of a blame on that. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/25 "2017-04-28T14:19:22Z")
Another post from me… [Here is a fantastic article about how there were more forces at work in the layoffs than simply “cord cutting”](http://thefederalist.com/2017/04/28/bad-federal-laws-share-blame-espns-demise/) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/26 "2017-04-28T15:12:19Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > How exactly do you think it would cost effect to get out of long term contracts with major sports leagues? The out clauses are likely incredibly pricey, and they are their highest rated programming. And if they dropped out, they likely would not be considered for the rebid prices. > > Basically ‘getting out of’ MNF and/or MLB would kill the network entirely. You just don’t rebid when they come up again. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/27 "2017-04-28T16:01:57Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > You just don’t rebid when they come up again. A) That’s still a few years in the future and doesn’t help now B) If they did that, ESPN would be dead. It’d be committing suicide. Where do you think their money comes from? Their only option is rebidding at a lower rate, but even then, there is plenty of competition (Fox for instance). If they lose too much, they will basically cease to exist. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/28 "2017-04-28T18:39:10Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > That’s on him, IYAM. He should have diversified, like Windhorst did. Eh, I think that’s unfair. He’s a young guy and hasn’t been on the payroll that long. He was just starting to get wider exposure, so I don’t think he’d really had time to diversify. As been noted in a few places ( like [here](https://theringer.com/espn-layoffs-d7fad2feb8d5) ) he was regarded as an up-and-comer, which makes layoffs like this kinda inexplicable. They’re not cutting dead weight in an objective sense, nor are they necessarily shedding big salaries. Instead they’re to some extent slashing cheaper journalists instead of far more expensive and utterly hollow “personalities” like Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless . That’s not really cost-cutting. It’s restructuring in a rather depressing way. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/29 "2017-04-28T19:04:18Z")
ESPN was allegedly blowing the competition out of the water on their last bids, though. I read they paid over $500M more for MNF than the next highest offer. And their NBA bid was similarly way higher than the next highest. ETA: Regarding Brian Windhorst, I’d argue he never diversified. All he does is report on LeBron, whether that was with the Plain Dealer, or in Miami, or back to Cleveland again. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/30 "2017-04-28T19:34:39Z")
Windy certainly STARTED by being the designated LeBron guy, and he’s probably still the go-to, but he’s changed to become one of the premiere NBA story breakers ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/31 "2017-04-28T19:41:32Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Eh, I think that’s unfair. He’s a young guy and hasn’t been on the payroll that long. He was just starting to get wider exposure, so I don’t think he’d really had time to diversify. As been noted in a few places ( like [here](https://theringer.com/espn-layoffs-d7fad2feb8d5) ) he was regarded as an up-and-comer, which makes layoffs like this kinda inexplicable. They’re not cutting dead weight in an objective sense, nor are they necessarily shedding big salaries. Instead they’re to some extent slashing cheaper journalists instead of far more expensive and utterly hollow “personalities” like Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless . > > That’s not really cost-cutting. It’s restructuring in a rather depressing way. Bayless is on Fox. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/32 "2017-04-28T21:21:49Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Bayless is on Fox. That breed of vacuous sports chatterer kinda all blend together in my head ;). ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/33 "2017-04-28T21:25:58Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Bayless is on Fox. Can’t ESPN lay him off anyway? Pretty please? I’ll even become an “Insider”, whatever the hell that is. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/34 "2017-04-29T02:03:54Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Another post from me… > > [Here is a fantastic article about how there were more forces at work in the layoffs than simply “cord cutting”](http://thefederalist.com/2017/04/28/bad-federal-laws-share-blame-espns-demise/) Nothing fantastic about it, it’s a steaming pile of deceptive inflammatory shit. Misclassifying employees as 1099s in order to dodge payroll taxes and other costs is against the law. Has been for a long time. Obamacare just gave the IRS a compelling reason to enforce it. If ESPN was operating illegally and they have to stop, that’s not Obamacare killing jobs, that’s just justice. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/35 "2017-05-03T00:21:46Z")
ESPN fires two more NFL reporters, Jaws and Merril Hoge [http://www.12up.com/posts/4948770-breaking-espn-reportedly-fires-two-more-star-nfl-reporters?a\_aid=36463](http://www.12up.com/posts/4948770-breaking-espn-reportedly-fires-two-more-star-nfl-reporters?a_aid=36463) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/36 "2017-05-03T00:35:23Z")
Hehe waited on firing Jaws until after the Draft in Philly was complete, coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/37 "2017-05-03T16:34:38Z")
I can’t believe that ESPN laid off Ed Werder … and then turned around and asked him to WORK THE FUCKING DRAFT! I’m glad that he declined their generous offer. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/38 "2017-05-03T17:05:51Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I can’t believe that ESPN laid off Ed Werder … and then turned around and asked him to WORK THE FUCKING DRAFT! I’m glad that he declined their generous offer. Really? I thought he was fired before the draft ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/39 "2017-05-03T17:59:28Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Another post from me… > > [Here is a fantastic article about how there were more forces at work in the layoffs than simply “cord cutting”](http://thefederalist.com/2017/04/28/bad-federal-laws-share-blame-espns-demise/) Big Government Liberals Killed Sports Media! Is NASCAR Next? Five Steroidal Retirees Yell At You Until You Concur! I mean, as long as ESPN’s looking for a business model… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330/40 "2017-05-03T18:20:27Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Their only option is rebidding at a lower rate, but even then, there is plenty of competition (Fox for instance). If they lose too much, they will basically cease to exist. ESPN overpaid for some of their programming. First of all, let’s be clear; ESPN makes a lot of money. That “Demise of ESPN” headline is idiotic. Layoffs, schmayoffs; they’re raking in a lot of cabbage. It’s not as much as they used to, though, and they’re simply being smart with their money. They don’t need those people, so out they go. That’s just smart business, no matter what your bottom line says. Wasted money is wasted money. The notion that this is the fault of Barack Obama or ESPN being a leftist outlet, as I’ve also read, is horseshit. They’re profitable but not as profitable as they once were for brutally obvious reasons everyone understands to be true: 1. More competition, most notably from the leagues themselves being their own distributors 2. Online streaming [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/espn-layoffs/785330.md?page=3)