Keyshawn Johnson, Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose Exit ESPN in Talent Cuts

variety.com:

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor More players are leaving the field at ESPN. Max Kellerman, the TV host, Keyshawn Johnson, the morning-show personality, Jeff Van Gundy, the veteran basketball analyst, and Jalen Rose, the NBA-player-turned-commentator, are all exiting the Disney sports-media giant, according to two people familiar with the matter, as executives look for ways to prune costs at the operation as its parent corporation grapples with seismic changes in its business. “Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun,” the company said in a statement. “This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead.

This is an extremely challenging process, involving individuals who have had tremendous impact on our company. These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth.” ESPN declined to make executives available for comment.

Approximately 20 people are being notified Friday that they will no longer appear on ESPN properties, according to one of the people familiar with the matter, even if their contracts will be extant for months.

ESPN intends to pay these staffers out the full value of their current agreements though if they find jobs elsewhere, those terms could be renegotiated, this person says.