ESPN在收购NFL Network后启动了三年来首次大规模裁员。[1]公司主席Jimmy Pitaro在备忘录中表示，"大部分工作影响与收购相关"。[1]
受影响的员工包括制作和幕后人员，以及部分主持人。[1]NFL分析师Ryan Clark和棒球解说员Karl Ravech均在被裁人员之列。[1]Ryan Clark自2015年加入ESPN，[1]而Karl Ravech自1993年以来一直在ESPN工作，曾担任2022至2025赛季"Sunday Night Baseball"的解说员。[1]
根据协议，ESPN于2024年4月接管了NFL Network。[1]收购协议在2024年8月宣布，并于2025年1月获得监管部门批准。[1]此次收购包括NFL Fantasy和RedZone频道的发行权，作为交换，NFL获得了ESPN 10%的股权。[1]
这轮裁员也是沃尔特迪士尼公司本周进行的更广泛裁减的一部分。[1]
ESPN has initiated significant workforce reductions, marking its largest layoff in three years following its acquisition of NFL Network. [1] The company took over NFL Network operations in April 2024, with the acquisition agreement announced in August 2024 and receiving regulatory approval in January 2025. [1] The deal grants ESPN rights to NFL Fantasy and the RedZone channel distribution, while the NFL receives a 10% equity stake in ESPN. [1]
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro stated in a memo that "the majority of the job impacts are related to the acquisition." [1] The layoffs affect both production and behind-the-scenes staff as well as on-air talent. [1] Among those impacted are NFL analyst Ryan Clark, who joined ESPN in 2015, and baseball announcer Karl Ravech, who has worked at ESPN since 1993 and served as a commentator for "Sunday Night Baseball" during the 2022-2025 seasons. [1] Tom Pelissero, who has been with NFL Network since 2017, is also affected. [1]
The ESPN reductions are part of broader cost-cutting measures being undertaken by parent company The Walt Disney Company this week. [1]