ESPN will lay off 150 staffers on Wednesday, marking the sport giant's third major round of layoffs in two years.
ESPN president John Skipper confirmed the layoffs in a memo to employees. Sporting News previously reported ESPN is looking to slash $80 million in salaries and other cost-saving measures. Almost all of the 150 laid off staffers work behind the camera, said ESPN insiders.
MORE: Sources: Skipper finalizing new contract through 2021
"We appreciate their contributions, and will assist them as much as possible in this difficult moment with severance, a 2017 bonus, the continuation of health benefits and outplacement services," Skipper said in the memo. "They will also appreciate your support. The majority of the jobs eliminated are in studio production, digital content, and technology and they generally reflect decisions to do less in certain instances and re-direct resources. We will continue to invest in ways which will best position us to serve the modern sports fan and support the success of our business."
ESPN previously laid off 100 on-air reporters and anchors and analysts, including John Clayton, Trent Dilfer and Britt McHenry this spring. The Worldwide Leader in Sports pink-slipped 300 employees in fall of 2015.
Bad Day in Bristol: ESPN laying off 150 staffers today. This will be the Worldwide Leader in Sports third mass layoffs in two years. Most of the people getting pink-slipped today work behind the camera. Read memo from president John Skipper. More details. https://t.co/XUBR61drjo pic.twitter.com/kdXQj1UW7g
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) November 29, 2017
The layoffs amount to about 2% of ESPN's total workforce of 8,000-plus employees.
ESPN insiders say the company will still be hiring for certain projects in 2018.
The network will hire both in front of and behind the camera for the launch of the Mike Greenberg-Michelle Beadle-Jalen Rose morning show and the Bomani Jones-Pablo S. Torre afternoon shows in New York City. Greenberg's highly anticipated morning show has been pushed back till Spring due to construction delays at ESPN's studio in historic South Street Seaport.
ESPN President John Skipper's message to employees: https://t.co/bLxKoAHmIc
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) November 29, 2017
Parent Disney will also be pushing out the new ESPN+ sports streaming service in Spring, 2018.
Disney boss Robert Iger has promised the app will propel ESPN in a "new direction" by "offering sports fans far more than they can get on any other app, website, or channel."
