ESPN President JOHN SKIPPER has "agreed to a contract extension" with Disney to remain in his position through '21, according to a source cited by Ryan Glasspiegel of THE BIG LEAD. Skipper has been ESPN’s president since Jan. 1, 2012. In '15, Skipper "signed a contract extension" through '18. After two-plus decades of "astounding prosperity, ESPN has had a tumultuous last couple years." ESPN had a "round of about 100 front-facing layoffs earlier this year, and reportedly has another round of about 100 employee layoffs coming" before the end of '17. Nevertheless, Disney is "sending a signal that it stands behind Skipper as the leader to navigate ESPN through these turbulent times" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 11/14). CNN MONEY's Garcia & Stelter wrote Disney's decision to keep Skipper "likely means a smoother transition as the network shifts toward digital." Disney recently "acquired a majority stake in BAMTech ... and plans to launch an ESPN streaming service next spring" (MONEY.CNN.com, 11/14). In L.A., Stephen Battaglio writes the extension is a "vote of confidence in Skipper’s leadership in ESPN, which in recent years has become a poster child for how the TV business has been upended by the growing number of viewers who are going without cable and satellite TV subscriptions." Skipper’s division has also "taken some public criticism for its editorial direction, especially in the polarizing political climate" (L.A. TIMES, 11/15). In N.Y., Hannah Withiam writes Skipper "will survive ESPN’s next round of layoffs ... and the next and the next." Skipper has "come under scrutiny of late for his indecisiveness over two ESPN controversies." One including the net's JEMELE HILL and the other involving Bartsool Sports (N.Y. POST, 11/15).
