ESPN layoffs: Who are the on-air personalities out amid network's cuts?
ESPN layoffs: Who are the on-air personalities out amid network's cuts?
Scooby Axson, USA TODAYThu, August 13, 2026 at 4:48 PM UTC
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It can be challenging time for some in sports media as rising broadcast costs and cord-cutting that began about a decade ago continue to have massive implications for companies' bottom lines.
The emergence of streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix and Apple throwing their hat into the sports broadcasting game has also led ESPN, the biggest name in the sports media business, to make crucial financial decisions to keep up with the times.
ESPN enacted layoffs in July to some front-facing talent or decided not to move forward with employees whose contract came up for renewal.
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The decision to lay off talent was in part due to Disney, the parent company of ESPN, acquiring NFL Network in a deal that gave the league a 10% equity stake in the Bristol, Connecticut-headquartered company.
Here is a partial list of those who were laid off or not renewed by ESPN.
Those affected by layoffs/left company -
Ryan Clark - NFL analyst
Karl Ravech - baseball play-by-play, studio host, who will still be behind the microphone when this year's Little League World Series.
David Lloyd - SportsCenter anchor
Stephania Bell - NFL injury analyst
Cam Newton - NFL analyst/First Take
Andreas Hale - Combat sports reporter)
Dan Hajducky - ESPN.com staff writer
Charles Davis - NFL Network analyst and reporter
Tom Pelissero - NFL insider
Bart Scott - Radio co-host, NFL analyst
Damien Woody - NFL analyst
More: Stephen A. Smith weighs in on ESPN layoffs: 'Those days are long gone'
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ESPN layoffs: Who are the on-air personalities out amid network's cuts?
Source: “AOL Money”
