Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech exit ESPN in round of layoffs

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Set us as preferred Several well-known on-air names at ESPN are leaving in a round of cost-cutting layoffs at Walt Disney Co.business units.The cuts follow ESPN’s takeover of the NFL’s media assets as part of the deal that gave the league a 10% stake for $3 billion dollars.

In a Tuesday memo to staff obtained by The Times, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said most of the cuts are tied to the NFL Network acquisition.“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Pitaro wrote.“Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future.”The company is also feeling financial pressure from rising live sports rights fees.

In Disney’s second quarter earnings report, ESPN saw a 5% year-to-year drop in operating income even though its revenues of $4.6 billion were up slightly.ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, designed to lessen its dependency on declining cable TV revenue, is still in its nascent stage.NFL analyst Ryan Clark was let go on Monday after reports leaked that he was among the layoffs.

The former member of the Super Bowl XLIII-winning Pittsburgh Steelers has been with the network since 2015.He was appearing on ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Monday when he learned that he was out.Clark was a fixture of ESPN’s NFL coverage, appearing on “NFL Live,” “First Take,” “Get Up” and “Monday Night Countdown.”“Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today by ESPN,” Clark wrote on X.

“So many of you have poured your life into that company, & I know how you’re feeling right now.” Hollywood Inc.ESPN President James Pitaro talks a lot about having a direct relationship with the consumer, even in his own...