ESPN ends its daily esports coverage, laying off at least eight
Network to continue covering esports on a story-by-story basis following cost-cutting measures, layoffs
Sports network ESPN will cease its daily coverage of esports as a part of cost-cutting measures.
In a statement to Front Office Sports today, ESPN confirmed it would no longer provide dedicated daily esports content beginning in January, though it would continue covering events and news on a story-by-story basis.
Sources speaking to Front Office Sports added that ESPN would continue to show live esports events across its media platforms as opportunities arose.
The elimination of regular esports coverage comes alongside other cost-cutting measures, including the biggest round of layoffs in company history spanning multiple departments, which included esports reporters Sean Morrison, Jarrett Hobbs, Thomas Tischio, Daniel J. Collette, Brian Bencomo, Jacob Wolf, Adam White, and Emily Rand.
ESPN first began daily esports coverage back in 2016 with the launch of a new esports section on its website, as well as a number of new hires specifically for the vertical.