ESPN Set to Name Norby Williamson Successor, Additional Cuts

ESPN content czar Burke Magnus is poised to announce a sweeping reorganization that will include naming a senior executive to replace the departed Norby Williamson, as well as the elimination of at least five management positions.

At the same time, Magnus is poised to promote several executives, and create new positions with new responsibilities, to meet his vision for 2025 and beyond. Sources say the net impact could leave roughly the same number of content positions.

Magnus, the president of content, oversees a wide purview including studio shows, live events, newsgathering, investigative journalism, ESPN Films, audio, digital, and social media. I’m hearing he could announce his reorganization as soon as next week. A handful of executives in Bristol have already been privately notified about the changes, according to sources. But any pink slips issued will be small compared to the sweeping cross-departmental layoffs conducted in waves last year. 

Magnus has been interviewing executives to replace Norby Williamson, whom he dropped back in April. It will be a powerful job, with a lot of responsibilities. But it won’t exactly mirror the duties of Williamson, who served 40 years at ESPN. Among the contenders, sources say, are respected ESPN exec Mike McQuade and former NBC Sports Olympic show-runner Jim Bell. 

McQuade is described as a talented, hard-working, ESPN “lifer” who stood up to the hard-charging Williamson. Williamson’s long run came to an end after he clashed with Magnus and Pat McAfee, who called him a “rat” who was attempting to “sabotage” his program.

“He and Norby used to have a bit of a rocky relationship, but his talent made it that [Williamson] needed Mike to lead some important properties,” said one source familiar with internal ESPN politics. “His appointment will make old-school ESPNers happy. Mike is a bit mercurial, especially to those he doesn’t know well. He’s famous internally for his brief communications—and sometimes gruff comportment.”

On the talent side, ESPN recently let go of Samantha Ponder and Robert Griffin III to save money before the end of parent Walt Disney Co.’s fiscal year, which ends Oct. 1. The network named Mike Greenberg, host of Get Up, to fill the Sunday NFL Countdown host chair long held by the legendary Chris Berman. 

ESPN declined to comment for this story.

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