Pundits Predicting More Layoffs at ESPN

BRISTOL, CT — The rumor mill is churning again about more layoffs at sports broadcasting giant ESPN, and one insider is quoting a source as saying things could get ugly.

"More bad news could be on the horizon for ESPN," wrote Michael McCarthy of The Sporting News. "Staffers at the Worldwide Leader in Sports are bracing for another possible round of layoffs late this year, multiple sources tell Sporting News.

McCarthy wrote, citing sources, that the "next round of cutbacks could come down between Thanksgiving and Christmas up to 60 on air and support positions potentially being impacted."

"This time it won't matter if you're 'liked' or not. It's not going to be pretty," one source warned in the Sporting News story.

All was not gloomy. Through Week 7 of the 2017 NFL season, ESPN's "Monday Night Football" was the lone NFL TV package up in ratings, according to Austin Karp of SportsBusiness Daily.

The last major layoffs at ESPN took place back in April, when The Washington Post reported on a round that included "50 familiar names and 50 viewers may or may not recognize."

One of those big names, Danny Kanell Tweeted that he was a casualty — "Poured my heart and soul into ESPN for last 8 years. Moved my wife and 3 kids to CT to go "all in" 5 years ago. Bummed it ended in 3 minutes..."

Another former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer was another.

ESPN has lost more than 10 million subscribers over the past few years, while the costs of negotiating broadcasting deals with major sports leagues have gone up considerably, according to The New York Times.

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