Karl Ravech, one of the lead voices on ESPN for more than three decades, is expected to be let go as part of a new round of layoffs, sources briefed on the move told The Athletic.<\/p>\n
On Monday, ESPN laid off NFL analyst Ryan Clark<\/a> as part of the latest round of layoffs, which will also affect behind-the-scenes personnel, as most of the dismissals are expected at NFL Network, according to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter.<\/p>\n ESPN declined comment. Reached by phone on Tuesday morning, Ravech had yet to be told, as ESPN is planning to inform employees later in the morning.<\/p>\n Ravech, 61, has been the lead play-by-play voice on ESPN\u2019s Major League Baseball coverage, hosted \u201cBaseball Tonight,\u201d called college hoops and was a longtime \u201cSportsCenter\u201d anchor. Ravech, who joined the network in 1993, called Monday\u2019s Phillies-Dodgers game in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n While Ravech is the biggest-name on-air personality expected to be let go, the most severe layoffs are expected behind the scenes at NFL Network. ESPN officially purchased the network in late January in a series of agreements with the NFL that gave the league a 10 percent stake in ESPN. ESPN has spent the past six months sorting out how to make all the pieces from its bases in Bristol and New York coordinate with NFL Network\u2019s Los Angeles operation.<\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s parent company, Disney, is also expected to conduct a round of layoffs.<\/p>\n ESPN has had several rounds of layoffs since 2015. Before that, the network that once billed itself as \u201cThe Worldwide Leader in Sports\u201d was considered the most idyllic place to work, as it had been immune to much of the rest of the media industry that crumbled with layoffs.<\/p>\n The network has retained quite a portfolio of events, including next February\u2019s Super Bowl, the NBA Finals and the College Football Playoff, and it is still arguably the top platform in sports. However, the ground beneath employees\u2019 feet has become regularly shaky in Bristol.<\/p>\n Three years ago, ESPN laid off a slew<\/a> of big-name on-air personalities, including Jeff Van Gundy, Keyshawn Johnson and Jalen Rose.<\/p>\n