ESPN facing more layoffs; NBA voices largely unaffected

More changes are coming at ESPN.

According to John Ourand of Puck, another round of layoffs is expected in Bristol, part of what has become an ongoing adjustment period across the sports media landscape.

The good news, relatively speaking, is that the cuts are expected to be limited — around 30 positions, primarily in off-camera roles.

Still, it’s another reminder that even the biggest names in sports media aren’t immune to broader industry shifts.

Per the report, the layoffs are not tied to ESPN’s recent absorption of NFL Network talent, but instead stem from familiar pressures: cord-cutting, rising rights fees, and the possibility that ESPN could eventually be spun off from The Walt Disney Company.

There’s also the financial ripple from last year’s dispute with YouTube TV, which reportedly cost ESPN around $100 million, along with looming increases tied to its partnership with the NFL.

So where does that leave the NBA side of things?

For now, largely untouched, at least in terms of on-air talent.

Top NBA voices and personalities are not expected to be impacted in this round of cuts, sources told Hoops Wire.

But like everywhere else in media, there’s an understanding that the environment is shifting. Fewer traditional outlets, more streaming, and an increasing emphasis on flexibility.

In other words, the people you see and hear covering the NBA should remain in place.

But behind the scenes? That’s where the changes continue.

And in today’s sports media world, that’s becoming the norm.