ESPN President John Skipper Confirms Upcoming Staff Cuts

ESPN President John Skipper today confirmed that the net is laying off employees, with some outlets pegging the number of cuts as high as 350. Skipper in a message to employees said, "We will be enacting a number of organizational changes at ESPN to better support our future goals. ... The people who will be leaving us have been part of ESPN’s success, and they have our respect and appreciation for their contributions." Skipper said ESPN will provide "a minimum of 60-days notice, a severance package reflective of their years of service, and outplacement benefits to help them find future employment" (ESPN).

Meanwhile, ESPN Communications Manager Mike Humes announced that he is leaving the net. Humes: "My last day will be Nov 1. I haven't decided many of my next steps" (TWITLONGER.com, 10/19).