Around 450 of ESPN’s on-air announcers, reporters and hosts are in Bristol, Conn., today to hear a series of presentations from ESPN’s top execs discussing the health of ESPN’s business. The meeting, which was scheduled after a series of high-profile social media gaffes and corporate layoffs, is being held in a gym on the ESPN campus. ESPN President John Skipper’s main message will be that ESPN’s brand is bigger than any individual talent member and he will call on the group to work together to help the network grow. Perhaps the most anticipated talk will be given by Senior VP and The Undefeated Editor-in-Chief Kevin Merida, who will spend 15 minutes discussing ESPN’s new social media policy. Skipper will conduct a 15-minute Q&A at the end of the two-hour-and-fifteen-minute meeting. Skipper is scheduled to kick-off the meeting at 12:30 with a 15-minute talk about the state of ESPN’s business. He will be followed by Exec VP/Content Connor Schell, who will outline ESPN’s programming philosophies and new initiatives. Other presentations will be given by President/Global Sales & Marketing Ed Erhardt, who will be interviewed by Sage Steele; and VP/Consumer Insights Barry Blyn and Senior Director/Marketing Strategy Samira Zebian, who will talk about ratings and the state of ESPN’s brand.
