Zach Lowe joins the list of laid off on-air talent

UPDATED with latest: ESPN senior NBA writer Zach Lowe is the latest to be let go from the sports network as belt-tightening continues at the Disney-owned outlet. The Athletic, which first reported the news, said the respected Lowe’s departure was “part of the network’s fiscal year planning, which will be completed at the end of September.” According to the Athletic, he is believed to be the latest to be let go in this round.

The 12-year ESPN veteran was fired just days after the dean of NBA reporting, Adrian “Woj” Wojnarowski, made the surprise announcement that he was retiring after seven years with the network.

That means ESPN will be without two of its top basketball writers as the NBA season ends in less than a month and the company priced an 11-year extension of its rights with the NBA a few weeks ago. The new agreement, which Disney CEO Bob Iger called “tremendous value,” involved a significant increase in costs compared to the previous agreement.

PREVIOUSLY on August 15, 2024: ESPN has parted ways with Robert Griffin III and NFL countdown Host Sam Ponder, Deadline has learned.

The athletewhich first reported the news, said Griffin had two years left on his contract, while Ponder was about to enter the final year of her three-year deal.

Griffin’s departure from ESPN comes as the sports network signed retired Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce as host Monday night countdown.

Sources tell us the decision to ax both on-air personalities was based on a business decision to cut costs and will be paid off for the remaining contracts.

PREVIOUSLY on July 31, 2023: ESPN’s longtime NBA announcer Mark Jackson has joined the ranks of on-air talent the network recently let go. Almost exactly a month ago, Jackson’s broadcast partner (and former coach) Jeff Van Gundy was among the 20 or so boldface names the network dropped. See the list below. Since then, there has been much speculation about Jackson’s fate. These speculations have come to an end today.

BEFORE, June 30th: On the same day that ESPN released special expanded coverage of player comings and goings during NBA free agency, about 20 of the network’s top on-air talent learned they would also be on the move.

A person familiar with the cuts told Deadline that they were unrelated to the multi-stage layoffs implemented at Disney in recent months. The source indicated that many of those affected by the new cuts have contracts beyond June 30 and will be paid accordingly, but the separation will allow ESPN to avoid broader layoffs.

Here is the list of departures, some of which have already been announced:

Zach Lowe

Robert Griffin III

Sam Ponder

Jeff Van Gundy

Jalen Rose

Keyshawn Johnson

Max Kellerman

Suzy Kolber

Chris Chelios

Matt Hasselbeck

Steve Young

Rob Ninkovich

Neil Everett

Ashley Brewer

Joon Lee

La Phonso Ellis

Todd McShay

Jordan Cornette

Jason Fitz

David Pollack

Below are some tweets from on-air talent announcing their departure.

ESPN issued the following statement regarding the layoffs:

“Given the current environment, ESPN has deemed it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of ​​public commentator salaries, and that process has begun,” ESPN said in a statement. “This measure will include small job cuts in the short term and will continue to focus on cost control as we negotiate individual contract extensions in the coming months. This is an extremely demanding process involving people who have had an enormous impact on our company. These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than performance, will help us achieve our financial goals and ensure future growth.

For a more in-depth analysis of these personnel moves, check out this article by Deadline’s Dade Hayes.

Dade Hayes contributed to this report.