ESPN Is Calling on Athletes for Sorely Needed Content Amid Virus

Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr discuss a host of issues related to the business of sports, including the dearth of programming available to sports networks like ESPN amid the virus-related shutdown of professional leagues like the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, which would normally be celebrating opening day. The hosts also offer ESPN some unsolicited advice on what kinds of programming would be attractive to much its audience stuck at home. Also discussed is how some pro sports teams owners, many of them billionaires, are handling the shutdown in terms of their workforces. Most recently, Delaware North, which is controlled by Boston Bruins billionaire owner Jeremy Jacobs, said it was putting 68 full-time salaried associates on temporary leave with one week of paid leave and eight weeks of benefits. Other employees would be required to take an indefinite salary reduction.

Hosts: Scott Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams and Michael Barr

Producer: Tim Herro

To contact the reporters on this story:

Scott Soshnick in New York at ssoshnick@bloomberg.net;

Eben Novy-Williams in New York at enovywilliam@bloomberg.net;

Michael Barr in New York at mbarr18@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:

Scott Soshnick at ssoshnick@bloomberg.net

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