Karl Ravech, a prominent on-air voice for over three decades, and NFL insider Tom Pelissero were among those laid off in the latest round of cuts. These dismissals occurred on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the situation. The layoffs mark the first since the network finalized its acquisition of NFL Network in January.
Most of the job impacts were anticipated to affect the NFL Network, particularly behind-the-scenes personnel. The acquisition involved the league gaining a 10 percent stake in the network. For the past six months, the network has been working to integrate operations from its bases in Bristol and New York with the NFL Network’s Los Angeles facility.
In an internal memo issued on Tuesday, Jimmy Pitaro, the network’s chairman, stated that significant progress has been made in integrating the acquired NFL assets. He also noted that while most job impacts are linked to the acquisition, colleagues in other areas of the company would also be notified of affected positions.
Notable Departures
Among the individuals affected, NFL analyst Ryan Clark was laid off on Monday. The network also expects to sever ties with former NFL MVP Cam Newton, longtime SportsCenter anchor David Lloyd, injury expert Stephania Bell, former All-Pro linebacker and talk show host Bart Scott, and NFL Network analyst Charles Davis. Reports of the layoffs for Bell, Lloyd, and Scott were initially made by Front Office Sports, while Outkick first reported the decision regarding Newton.
Ravech, 61, has been a lead play-by-play announcer for Major League Baseball coverage, hosted “Baseball Tonight,” and called college basketball games. He also served as a longtime SportsCenter anchor, joining the network in 1993. He called Monday’s Phillies-Dodgers game in Philadelphia.
On the NFL Network side, Pelissero has been a consistent presence. With the combination of Adam Schefter from the network and Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, the network decided to move on from Pelissero.
Clark, a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl-winning safety, joined the network as an NFL analyst in 2015. He was reportedly informed of his layoff during a broadcast of “NFL Live” on Monday and did not complete the show. The network had initially planned to inform Clark on Tuesday morning, but media inquiries led to concerns he might learn of his dismissal online before being directly notified.
Clark was earning more than $2 million annually under a contract signed in February 2024. Rumours about his potential job loss had circulated since the Super Bowl in February. He had been a contributor to shows such as “NFL Live,” “SportsCenter,” and “First Take.”
Broader Impact and History of Cuts
The network’s parent company, Disney, is also expected to conduct a round of layoffs. This marks several rounds of layoffs for the network since 2015. Before this period, the network, which once branded itself as “The Worldwide Leader in Sports,” was largely considered a stable workplace, seemingly unaffected by the layoffs impacting much of the media industry.
Despite the cuts, the network maintains a strong portfolio of events, including the upcoming Super Bowl in February, the NBA Finals, and the College Football Playoff. It remains a significant platform in sports broadcasting. However, the employment landscape for staff in Bristol has become less secure.
Three years ago, the network laid off several prominent on-air talents, including Jeff Van Gundy, Keyshawn Johnson, and Jalen Rose. On Tuesday, Davis, Lloyd, and Bell were expected to face similar outcomes after lengthy careers at their respective networks. Davis, a longtime draft analyst for NFL Network, continues his role at CBS, where he was promoted to the top college football analyst for Big Ten afternoon games. He was previously part of CBS’s No. 2 NFL crew until last season.
Lloyd has been with the network since 1997, serving as a consistent presence on “SportsCenter.” Bell, who had been with the network for nearly 20 years, established herself as an injury expert, a role she pioneered before it became widespread. Newton had a brief tenure with the network, having signed a new multiyear deal last August to continue appearing on “First Take.” Scott has had a varied media career post-playing, including appearances on CBS’s “NFL Today” studio show and various network programs like “Get Up” and “First Take.”
The network had initially planned to let Clark go on Tuesday but changed course after media inquiries on Monday. Clark was removed from “NFL Live” on Monday and informed of his dismissal, as the network preferred he hear the news directly from an executive rather than online.
Read Also
Source: nytimes.com
