SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy cited sources as saying that ESPN is "poised to slash" an estimated $80M in salaries and other costs in the coming weeks. The third round of layoffs in two years at the Disney-owned sports network is "expected to come down after Thanksgiving and before Christmas." Previously, ESPN "laid off 100 mostly on-air anchors/reporters/hosts this April" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 11/20).
GO BIG OR GO HOME: The BIG3 and Fox Sports yesterday announced coverage plans for the league's second season, with live coverage on tap for the entire 10-week '18 slate. The games will air on Friday nights starting June 22, with six windows on FS1 and four windows on Fox. Each week, the league will play four games back-to-back, three of which will be broadcast live by Fox Sports and streamed concurrently on Fox Sports Go. The championship game will air Aug. 24 (Fox Sports).
TAKING A NEW PATH? In Pittsburgh, Tim Benz noted free agent 2B Neil Walker "has his eyes on broadcasting in his post-MLB playing life." Walker "provided the football color commentary" on AT&T SportsNet for the WPIAL high school championship game. Walker before the broadcast said, "This is definitely something I'd be interested in when my career is done" (TRIBLIVE.com, 11/19).
KILLING THE CLUTTER: In S.F., Bruce Jenkins wrote at halftime of Thursday night’s Rocket-Suns game on TNT, the “Inside the NBA” crew "devoted a five-minute segment to shameless advertising for American Express and something called 'Shop Small,'" with Shaquille O’Neal "bestowing gifts" upon fellow co-hosts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. The crew thinks it can "get away with anything (festive eating is always in play), when in fact their audience is recoiling in disdain." People should "try watching ESPN’s weekday show, 'The Jump.'" It has the "same brand of high-quality analysis without the clutter" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/20).
