ESPN asks commentators to take a 15% pay cut because of coronavirus
The move would affect 100 of the network’s highest-paid commentators, and would be a 15% cut over the next three months.
“We are asking about 100 of our commentators to join with our executives and take a temporary salary reduction,” the sports network said in a statement on Monday. “These are challenging times and we are all in this together.”
ESPN did not say how many commentators have agreed to the reduction in pay. The pay cut follows executives at the network having their pay reduced by 20% to 30% depending on title. These measures are designed to ward off further furloughs at the network.
The coronavirus outbreak has hit ESPN particularly hard since the virus has forced major sports — the lifeblood of the network’s programming — to shut down.
ESPN has scrambled to fill its air without sports in the meantime.