ESPN LAYS OFF HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES

ESPN laid off close to 400 workers today in a measure they say “implements changes across the company to enhance our continued growth while smartly managing costs.  While difficult, we are confident that it will make us more competitive, innovative, and productive.”

This type of measure is one of the reasons why I got out of broadcasting.  For years I would make personal sacrifices at the expense of my job.  What for?  The loyalty from these corporations does not  come back the same way.  I can recall sweating numerous extra hours at CKX-TV in Brandon, only to have a bunch of suits show up one day and announce they were laying off most of the staff and the only ones they were keeping were ones with seniority.  What you have done for the company didn’t matter other than your service time.  So, if you were a grumpy twenty-five year veteran you got to keep your job over the three year guy who was working seven days (60 plus hours) a week to prove himself. 

ESPN is not a sinking ship.  In the last few years they have spent the following amounts of money on broadcast rights:

$1.8 billion/year for Monday Night Football
$700 million/year for Major League Baseball
$500 million/year for College Football Playoffs
$70 million/year for US Open Tennis
$20 million/year  for Big East
$15 million/year for Longhorn Network

Not included in these figures are rights to SEC, NBA, NASCAR, numerous other college sports, soccer, etc. 

If ESPN didn’t have the money, they wouldn’t spent it on the programming.  Where they miss the boat is that without top notch on-air (and off-air) talent, your viewing audience isn’t as large and, therefore, you can’t justify the expensive commercial/advertising rates that go along with airing live block programming.

The typical response from someone that has never had to deal with a job loss will say that’s the cost of doing business.  Sometimes you have to lose your job.  And, that’s fine to say that.  But, if you are in broadcasting and you get asked to do the odd extra chore from your superior, I don’t think the employee should feel bad to put his hand out and say ‘my time is worth money’.  Remember, you can always make more money, but you can never make more time. 

I was guilty myself of being too shy to ask my boss for more money to MC a banquet.  Radio/TV station employees don’t make very much money as it is.  Factor in your salary on an hourly wage based on what good employees give to their employers, and it’s well below minimum standards.  Meanwhile, companies like ESPN (fill in the blank with your own corporate company name) are overflowing their bank accounts at the expenses of good workers who are worth their weight in gold, but settle for pennies.  So, next time you are asked to make a public appearance, maybe consider asking for some green in return.  Because there may come a day the company will cut you loose and your dedication will have NOTHING to do with their decision.

Professional athletes managed to make more money, as a collective group, by publicizing their salaries.  I think broadcasters should do the same.  You may be surprised to learn what the guy across from you is getting.  All it takes is to see a few ‘bad’ workers getting more than they are worth and your own wage would come up in a real big hurry.

Reference article:
http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013/may/espn-reportedly-laying-off-hundreds-of-employees.html