ESPN has announced the departure of senior NBA writer Zach Lowe amid ongoing cost-cutting measures at the Disney-owned sports network. The Athletic reported that Lowe’s exit is part of the network’s fiscal year planning, which is expected to conclude at the end of September. He is believed to be the last individual laid off in this round of cuts.
Lowe, who had been with ESPN for 12 years, was let go just days after NBA reporting veteran Adrian “Woj” Wojnarowski announced his retirement from the network after a seven-year stint. Both departures leave ESPN without two of its top basketball writers as the NBA season is set to begin in less than a month, following a costly 11-year rights extension with the league.
In related personnel changes, ESPN recently parted ways with Robert Griffin III and NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder. Sources indicated that Griffin had two years left on his contract, while Ponder was in the final year of her three-year deal. The decision to let both go was attributed to a need for cost reduction, and they will receive payouts for the remainder of their contracts.
Previously, longtime ESPN NBA announcer Mark Jackson was also laid off, shortly after the company dismissed his broadcast partner Jeff Van Gundy. In a round of layoffs earlier in the summer, around 20 on-air talents were also affected, with reports indicating that these cuts were separate from Disney’s broader layoffs in recent months. Those impacted were informed of their departures on the same day that ESPN provided extensive coverage of NBA Free Agency.
ESPN acknowledged the challenging nature of these layoffs, emphasizing that they are aimed at achieving financial targets and ensuring the company’s future growth.