ESPN is beginning a new round of layoffs, with reporting citing a memo from ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro. Multiple outlets say it is the first significant round of job cuts in about three years. According to the memo, released to employees and obtained by news organizations, most of the planned moves are tied to ESPN’s acquisition and combination of NFL Network operations and other NFL digital assets. The deal is reported as having been announced last August and completed in April when ESPN took over NFL Network.
Sources also state that the acquisition includes NFL Fantasy and rights for distributing the RedZone channel to cable and satellite operators. The memo indicates the layoffs are part of the integration and reorganization efforts following the transaction, rather than an independent restructuring.
While the coverage agrees on the broad connection between the layoffs and the NFL Network deal, details such as the number of employees affected and specific roles reportedly vary by outlet and are not fully specified in the provided excerpts.
