ESPN reportedly puts gaming analyst Kezirian on layoff list
Sports betting analyst Doug Kezirian may be one of the on-air personalities pushing ESPN into another round of budget cuts.
Multiple outlets reported late Monday that Kezirian and boxing analyst Andre Ward were included in a list of 20 on-air personalities fired by the Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS )-owned sports broadcaster last week. Ward confirmed on Twitter that he is leaving ESPN. As of this writing, Kezirian's Twitter feed contains no such statement, but it does contain some comments regarding Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, which took place earlier today in Coney Island, New York.
"Given the current environment, ESPN believes it is necessary to identify some additional cost savings in terms of public commentator salaries and that process has begun,"ESPN said in a statement released last week. "This measure will include short-term minor layoffs, as well as a continued focus on cost control as we negotiate individual contract extensions in the coming months."
The layoffs announced last week include high-profile talent such as former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy, former NBA star Vince Carter, retired NFL players Matt Hasselbeck, Keyshawn Johnson and Steve Young, as well as Max Kellerman, Suzy Kolber and NFL draft analyst Todd McShay.
Disney’s mistakes are increasing
On November 20, 2022, Disney announced that Bob Iger would return as CEO, replacing Bob Chapek. The news initially sparked excitement as Disney's stock price rose, closing at $97.58 on Nov. 21, but that excitement waned when the stock closed at $90.60 on July 3. Year to date, it's up 4.28%, down from 16.06%. Returned by the S&P 500 Index.
The lackluster stock performance is an example of how Iger's sequel at Disney got off to a rocky start. Others include the executive branch's insistence on escalating a dispute with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over a law banning Florida children in kindergarten through third grade from learning about sex-related topics. This issue was part of Chapek's downfall.
Additionally, Disney’s once-vaunted Pixar division—the entity responsible for many of its popular animated films—has lost its clout. The last three films, "Lightyear," "Oddworld," and "The Elements," all flopped at the box office.
The timing was bad for the Disney boss, with the New York Post reporting on the same day ESPN announced the layoffs that Iger and his wife had spent $7 million upgrading their Brentwood, Calif., mansion. He is worth an estimated $700 million.
ESPN Caught in the Crossfire
Speculation is strong that the layoffs at ESPN are to accommodate Pat McAfee and his eponymous show, which recently moved from FanDuel to the sports broadcast giant.
ESPN is believed to be paying McAfee $17 million per year over five years, which, if true, would mean a salary cut from his four-year, $120 million contract with FanDuel. Some media industry observers believe other ESPN talent was let go to make room for McAfee-related expenses. Within the network, the consensus is that the appeal of McAfee's show is simple: It has made money and has a loyal following.
As for Kezirian, the Las Vegas-based host of ESPN 2’s “Daily Wager.” He has yet to announce his next move, but he is a capable punter, as evidenced by the fact that he won $58,000 in the 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge.
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Source: www.casino.org
