Russell Wolff, Head of ESPN+, Has Been Let Go
As Disney continues to struggle with what the future of ESPN looks like, Bob Iger and other Disney executives have consistently pointed to streaming as the likely format that the network will take.
Currently, the company is investing heavily in ESPN+. The service currently has 24.9 million subscribers and features both live events and original programming.
Photo: Yahoo Sports
With the heavy promotion that Disney has done for ESPN+, the news today that veteran ESPN executive Russell Wolff was among those leaving the company during its latest round of layoffs was shocking.
Wolff had previously been in charge of overseeing ESPN+.
A Long And Storied Career
Russell Wolff had been with ESPN for 26 years, in a variety of roles. These included executive vice president, managing director of ESPN International, and more recently head of ESPN+.
Photo: Joe Faraoni/ ESPN Images
“It is with great pride in all that we have accomplished as a team that I share with you that I will be leaving ESPN in July,” Wolff wrote in a memo. He added that the network “has been the most amazing professional home, in the US and overseas, anyone could have asked for.”
A Shakeup In Streaming
While Russell Wolff’s firing was a surprising turn of events, it does point to a larger shakeup within Disney’s steaming operation.
Photo: Tuck School of Business
Earlier this month, Michael Paull was let go after overseeing the direct-to-consumer division since 2017.
The company is currently in the midst of executing CEO Bob Iger’s plan to eliminate 7,000 jobs in order to combat the company’s debt burden.
With the second round of layoffs currently underway, more news is expected this week.
As always, be sure to check back in with MickeyBlog. We will continue to bring you updates on all the news surrounding the Walt Disney Company.
Photo: InsideHook
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