ESPN’s Los Angeles-based “SportsCenter” and soccer studio coverage out of the city are coming to an end, with plans to relocate the productions to Bristol, Connecticut.
The sports network’s decision will impact 35, or 13%, of the 229 employees in its West Coast production center, an individual familiar with the decision-making tells TheWrap.
“Based on our current business needs, we are relocating the L.A.-based ‘SportsCenter’ and soccer studio shows to ESPN’s Bristol headquarters, including the limited number of employee positions related to these shows,” an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement. “The Los Angeles Production Center will continue to host ESPN’s NBA studio productions and provide office space to additional L.A.-based employees.”
“SportsCenter” will remain in its 1 a.m. ET time slot and will begin production out of Bristol in late May. Conversations about the L.A.-based “SportsCenter” anchors Linda Cohn and Stan Verrett’s future remain ongoing, the individual said.
The move comes as ESPN is rumored to be in talks about potentially acquiring the NFL Media Network.
Andrew Marchand of TheAthletic.com said on his podcast that the price tag could be as much as $2 billion and that the league may get an ownership stake in ESPN as part of a potential deal.
ESPN declined to comment on rumors or speculation, adding that its decision to shutter L.A. “SportsCenter” is unrelated.
