Kruk and espn part ways
- Thread starter garlan5
- Start date
You say that like it's a sinister thing.
Kruk was an idiot, though an entertaining one who was rarely infuriating. He wouldn't have been on my top 5 list of know-nothing-bros who need to go at ESPN, but he wasn't far behind, either.
I don't think they're "hemorrhaging money" at all. I just think they are less profitable than they were in their peak a few years ago and are beginning to trim fat (no pun intended with regards to Kruk).
I think the old assumption that live sports are the best thing to lure in mass amounts of viewers to broadcasts in progress, unlike scripted shows that can be DVR'ed is proving wrong. The huge TV deals for sports leagues are going to plateau. The league revenue for the MLB and NFL will still grow because of other revenue streams that are growing, but Monday night football and Sunday Night Baseball are not going to be the cash cows for networks that they once were. ESPN is starting to deal with that by scaling back the money they used to throw around for all of their guys. All the competing sports networks are going to cherry pick guys, and you'll have a more spread out talent pool. And with guys like Bayless and Kruk, I use the phrase talent generously. Maybe if ESPN wasn't supporting 5 or 6 channels of mediocre programming, they wouldn't have this issue.
Yeah, in no way is ESPN losing money. People are very much focused on it because they are such a huge part of Disney's operating profit (like close to half) and are very much declining. The trend isn't good, and Wall Street hates stagnant growth (let alone shrinking revenue) but they're not close to losing money. Yet.
Hadn't had coffee yet so didn't phrase properly. I meant profitability is way down from the glory years.
http://www.outkickthecoverage.com/espn-loses-4-million-subscribers-in-past-year-080416
http://www.outkickthecoverage.com/espn-loses-4-million-subscribers-in-past-year-080416
It's more that ESPN has discovered that hardly anyone is watching their channels for most of their personalities so when it becomes at all costly to keep talent around they pull the plug. They need to pay to have sports first and foremost. Even if the above wasn't entirely true, though, people in attractive demographics for advertisers only know Kruk from ESPN, so there's an opportunity for them to find a recently retired player that draws in better demos.
I disagree. Yes they have parted ways with guys like Skip and Cowherd, but ESPN seems to go really hard in promoting the personalities on their programs, particularly SportsCenter. Ever see the TV spot for SportsCenter with Scott VanPelt? It is just 30 seconds of SVP saying stupid stuff and it hardly has anything to do with highlights or analysis. If you are watching a live sport on ESPN they will plug SC later coming up after the game and always make sure to say who is hosting the show, something they have never done in the past.
Kruk is a member at my country club. Played a couple rounds with him over the years, and he is a great guy. May not offer much insight, but he is a guy you definitely would want to have several beers with
Anyone know what salary level we're discussing? SVP -- is he 7 figures, or do all the talking heads at ESPN top out at $500K or so? Is McDonough (now on MNF) making $250K, or is that a million dollar gig?
Kruk -- is he going from $500K to $250K (when he inevitably lands at MLB)? Or he is he going to barely crack 6 figures -- for showing up on time and offering opinions?
I seem to remember local TV news/sports guys are now in the mid-100s, with maybe NY/LA as an exception. And the WEEI guy who left to become a computer programmer was barely making $30K or something like that.
What's the pecking order, and are the national guys really raking it in?
Kruk -- is he going from $500K to $250K (when he inevitably lands at MLB)? Or he is he going to barely crack 6 figures -- for showing up on time and offering opinions?
I seem to remember local TV news/sports guys are now in the mid-100s, with maybe NY/LA as an exception. And the WEEI guy who left to become a computer programmer was barely making $30K or something like that.
What's the pecking order, and are the national guys really raking it in?
The ESPN "names" make good money, Schilling told Dan Patrick he was making $2.5M there and while he is clearly a blowhard I hadn't heard that anyone contradicted him. I imagine Kruk was in that ballpark as well and will be taking a pretty serious pay cut at MLB which I agree is likely where he will end up.
http://nesn.com/2016/05/curt-schilling-reveals-former-2-5m-espn-salary-rails-against-firing-again/
Clearly they came to the same conclusion which I think is reasonable. I highly doubt Jess Mendoza is making in the millions of $s.
I also don't doubt that the decision to part ways was mutual. ESPN probably said they'd love to have him back but at x% of his current pay. Kruk told them to pound sand and therefore the decision was mutual.
I also don't doubt that the decision to part ways was mutual. ESPN probably said they'd love to have him back but at x% of his current pay. Kruk told them to pound sand and therefore the decision was mutual.