Episode 84: ESPN layoffs and what they mean for the business

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: ESPN started a round of layoffs this week that included one employee of 43 years in PR executive Mike Soltys and another employee of 26 years in senior executive Russell Wolff. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss how ESPN’s string of layoffs have affected the morale inside the company. They talk about the business decisions that led to this point, and what this means for the future of ESPN. Marchand and Ourand also discuss ESPN’s announcer signings (Marcus Spears and, potentially, Pat McAfee) and rights deals in light of the layoffs. Outside of ESPN, Marchand and Ourand outline the changes that should be expected at NBC in the wake of Comcast’s sudden move to let go of Jeff Shell after he admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a coworker. The two hosts talk about what viewers should look for during the upcoming NFL Draft telecasts, and they walk through Adam Silver’s and Rob Manfred’s vision of how fan will be able to watch local sports over the next several years.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.