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American Military News
03-06-2025
- Business
- American Military News
Disney to cut hundreds of employees in latest round of layoffs
Walt Disney Co. launched another deep round of layoffs on Monday, notifying several hundred Disney employees in the U.S. and abroad that their jobs were being eliminated amid an increasingly difficult economic environment for traditional television. People close to the Burbank entertainment giant confirmed the cuts, which are hitting film and television marketing teams, television publicity, casting and development as well as corporate financial operations. The move comes just three months after the company axed 200 workers, including at ABC News in New York and Disney-owned entertainment networks. At the time, the division said it was trimming its staff by 6% amid shrinking TV ratings and revenue. Disney declined to specify how many workers were losing their jobs. The cutbacks — the fourth round of layoffs in less than a year — come after Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger acknowledged to Wall Street that Disney had been pumping out too many shows and movies to compete against Netflix. The programming buildup accelerated as the company prepared to launch Disney+ in late 2019, and it bulked up its staff to handle the more robust pipeline. But the company has since retrenched, recognizing the need to focus on creating high-quality originals that meet Disney's once lofty standards. Disney has faced significant budget pressures after promising investors that its direct-to-consumer services — Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ — would achieve profitability last year. The company lost billions of dollars over several years in its strategic shift to streaming, but it reached its goal to make money on streaming last fall. Still, streaming subscribers can be fickle, creating a daunting new reality for the company that could long count on cable TV subscriptions as one of its most reliable economic pillars. Cord-cutting has taken a heavy toll. The entertainment giant — one of Southern California's largest private sector employers — has eliminated more than 7,000 jobs since 2023. The traditional TV and film units felt the brunt of the downsizing during the last year. In July, the company slashed about 140 workers, primarily in its Disney entertainment unit. The company's TV stations also lost staff members and ABC News shed about 40 employees last October. ABC News largely escaped this week's cuts, according to one knowledgeable person who was not authorized to discuss the internal moves. ABC News still boasts healthy audiences for its newscasts, but the ABC television network and Disney-owned entertainment channels have seen dramatic viewer defections as consumers switch to streaming services, including Netflix, Paramount+ and Disney+. ABC's prime-time schedule has lost considerable steam. For the just-ended broadcast television season, ABC mustered only three shows in Nielsen's top 20 rankings. 'Monday Night Football on ABC' ranked seventh by averaging more than 10 million viewers, 'Saturday Night Football' ranked 18th with 7.4 million viewers and freshman drama 'High Potential' made the cut at 20th with an average audience of 7.1 million, according to Nielsen. Monday's eliminations come three weeks after Disney presented its fall lineup to advertisers, leaning heavily on its sports stars including Peyton and Eli Manning rather than actors from its entertainment programming. ESPN was spared the ax as the sports unit is preparing for its high-stakes launch this fall of a stand-alone ESPN streaming service, the knowledgeable person said. The move comes amid a strong run for Disney's film studio, which has celebrated blockbuster box office results from its live-action 'Lilo & Stitch,' which has earned $610 million in ticket sales globally, according to Box Office Mojo. A month ago, Disney issued strong fiscal second-quarter earnings. The company reported $23.6 billion in revenue for the three months that ended March 29, a 7% increase compared with the same quarter a year earlier. Earnings before taxes totaled $3.1 billion, up $2.4 billion from last year. Hollywood trade site Deadline first reported the news of the latest Disney cuts. The landscape has been increasingly challenging for traditional companies. In addition to Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global and even such tech companies as Amazon and Apple have fired workers. In late May, NBCUniversal cut 54 jobs in Los Angeles, according to state employment records. Six Flags Entertainment Corp. laid off 140 workers. Disney shares closed down 9 cents to $112.95. ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Mike Patrick, ESPN's iconic play-by-play voice for 36 years, dies at 80
Mike Patrick, the beloved voice behind ESPN's play-by-play broadcasts for 36 years, has died at the age of 80. Known for his long tenure as the NFL voice on "Sunday Night Football" and his extensive coverage of college sports, Patrick's death marks the end of an era in sports broadcasting. Patrick's iconic career began in 1982 when he joined ESPN as a play-by-play announcer. He was the face and voice behind ESPN's "Sunday Night Football" for 18 years, calling games from 1987 to 2005. But it wasn't just football where Patrick left his mark; he also played a pivotal role in broadcasting college sports, particularly basketball, where he covered over 30 ACC championships and anchored the Women's Final Four from 1996 to 2009. "Mike Patrick called countless significant events over decades at ESPN and is one of the most influential on-air voices in our history," said Burke Magnus, ESPN's president of content. "His work on both college and professional sports has set the standard for play-by-play excellence." Beyond his work in the booth, Patrick was revered for his enthusiasm, deep knowledge of the games he covered, and the warmth he brought to every broadcast. ESPN colleagues like Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas paid tribute to Patrick, recalling his professionalism, energy, and immense love for the ACC, where he made his name in college basketball. "Mike had great energy and a keen knowledge of ACC basketball," said Vitale. "He was truly one of the best. RIP Mike Patrick." Bilas echoed similar sentiments, remembering Patrick as "a pro's pro" and a friend who significantly influenced his own broadcasting career. Patrick's contributions were not limited to football and basketball. He was also part of ESPN's coverage of the College World Series and served as the play-by-play voice for both "Thursday Night Football" and "Saturday Night Football" in college football. In 1987, he called ESPN's first-ever regular-season NFL game, alongside NFL legends Joe Theismann and Paul Maguire. Reflecting on his career, Patrick once said, "It's wonderful to reflect on how I've done exactly what I wanted to do with my life." His departure from ESPN in 2018 was a bittersweet moment for fans and colleagues alike, as he had worked with some of the most talented individuals in the industry, both on air and behind the scenes. Mike Patrick's legacy will live on as one of the most iconic voices in sports broadcasting. His work shaped ESPN's coverage of both college and professional sports, earning him a special place in the hearts of fans and colleagues across the world.
Fox News
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Mike Patrick, longtime ESPN play-by-play announcer, dead at 80
Mike Patrick, a 36-year play-by-play announcer for ESPN, died of natural causes on Sunday. Patrick was 80 years old. Patrick's doctor, as well as the City of Clarksburg, West Virginia, confirmed the longtime broadcaster's death on Tuesday. After starting his career in 1982, Patrick became well known as the voice of ESPN's "Sunday Night Football," a role he starred in for 18 years. He began that job in 1987, calling some of the best in NFL primetime until 2005. He was in the booth with former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann, and then Paul Maguire. He was also well known for his roles in college football and basketball for the "Worldwide Leader in Sports." For college basketball, Patrick was most known as the voice for ESPN's Women's Final Four coverage, which began in 1996 to 2009. "Thursday Night Football" and "Saturday Night Football" saw Patrick provide play-by-play coverage for college football as well. "It's wonderful to reflect on how I've done exactly what I wanted to do with my life," Patrick said when he retired from ESPN in 2018. "At the same time, I've had the great pleasure of working with some of the very best people I've ever known, both on the air and behind the scenes." Before breaking out with ESPN, Patrick began working for WVSC-Radio in Somerset, Pennsylvania, in 1966. He would eventually take the trip down to Jacksonville, where he became WJXT-TV's sports director. Patrick also worked for WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., as a sports reporter and a weekend anchor. It was there where he called Maryland football and basketball games. Other than sports, Patrick served in the U.S. military, being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force following his undergrad at George Washington University. Many mourned the loss of Patrick, including fellow ESPN broadcaster Dr. Jerry Lee Punch. "I learned so much from this man. Mike Patrick could do it all," he wrote on X. "His preparation, his delivery, his voice inflections & his amazing dry humor made him the GOAT in my book. I was so honored to work @ESPNCFB [with] him, & so blessed to call him a dear friend. RIP Mike, u earned it." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carrie Underwood Says Her Sons Isaiah and Jacob Have Inherited Her Musicality: 'Both Can Carry a Tune'
Carrie Underwood is giving a rare update on her two sons. The country singer, 41, appeared on a Wednesday, March 5, episode of Live with Kelly and Mark and was asked about her two sons — Isaiah and Jacob — whom she shares with her NHL player husband Mike Fisher. "Do they have your musical gifts?" co-host Kelly Ripa asked. "They both can carry a tune. I feel like our oldest, Isaiah, probably has the biggest chance of heading in that direction," Underwood shared. "Jake likes hockey. So we may have a little of both because my husband's a retired NHL player." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: Carrie Underwood Reveals Her Son's Sweet Reaction to Her New Role as an American Idol Judge "Not hockey! You know when they become teenager and they go through puberty, hockey hands, the smell is a real thing," Ripa teased. "The gloves smell!" co-host Mark Consuelos added. "He's 6, and everything already stinks. It's disgusting," Underwood replied. Back in October, Underwood spoke with E! News and revealed her son's adorable reaction to her return to American Idol as a judge on the show's 23rd season after taking home the grand prize in season 4. Underwood told the outlet, "My son thinks I'm singing somewhere, so he's like, 'God please give her all the right words and help her sing great.'" Her husband Fisher, 44, then had to correct his little one. "Mike was like, 'She's not singing,' " the mom of two recalled. "The don't really know what I do," she then admitted. "They do, but they don't, which I kind of love. I'm mom to them." Although Underwood's kids may not have seen her on American Idol the first time around, they're getting excited to watch her on television when the singing show returns to ABC. "They love seeing me on TV. But even with younger kids who obviously did not see me on American Idol or early in my career, to some kiddos, [Saturday Night Football] is what they know me from," she joked to Yahoo Entertainment. "So I'll take it. That's really amazing." Read the original article on People
