Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN
- Thread starter aceboon
- Start date
GoddamnyamanProf
Countdown to Armageddon
This along with creating 30 for 30 and getting Jalen a job
He created one of the best sports website going, with probably the best basketball content and the best sports podcasts out there.
Bill Simmons is pretty much responsible for everything that doesnt suck on ESPN
But you know, coli gone coli
KnowledgeDropper
All Star
It's interesting what will happen. He will try to start a platform elsewhere. ESPN will likely pay up for people like Jalen, Lowe, Barnwell, etc. I don't if they care about the pop culture people. We're gonna see who rides with who. Renember ESPN owns all the brands (Grandland, 30 for 30, etc)
Goat poster
KANG LIFE
Not gonna lie, sometimes I hate Bill.
But Grantland is the best site right now not just for sports, but also for film and TV (Bills second love after sports)
I hope him leaving doesn't change the site much.
But Grantland is the best site right now not just for sports, but also for film and TV (Bills second love after sports)
I hope him leaving doesn't change the site much.
dora_da_destroyer
Master Baker
Never liked him as an analyst/commentator/on-air talent so deuces
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/09/sports/bill-simmons-and-espn-are-parting-ways.html?_r=0
Bill Simmons and ESPN Are Parting Ways
Bill Simmons, who built a personal empire at ESPN and is one of America’s most influential sports personalities, will leave the media giant when his contract expires in the fall. He and the company were unable to reach an extension after months of talks.
“I’ve decided that I’m not going to renew his contract,” said John Skipper, the president of ESPN. “We’ve been talking to Bill and his agent and it was clear we weren’t going to get to the terms so we were better off focusing on transition.”
Skipper said that the differences between the company and Simmons were “about more than money,” although he would not offer details. He added: “We’ve had an excellent run with Bill, almost 15 years. It’s been good for us and good for him. It was a decision I had to make and he had to make to move forward.”
Grantland, the sports and entertainment site run by Simmons for ESPN, will be unaffected by his departure, Skipper said.
“It long ago went from being a Bill Simmons site to one that can stand on its own,” Skipper said.
Simmons’s contract expires at the end of September.
The outspoken Simmons built himself into a major brand at ESPN, branching out from his base as a freewheeling columnist to host a popular weekly podcast, the B.S. Report; to create Grantland; and to play a role in the launch and success of the “30 for 30” documentary film series.
But his future at ESPN became a cause célèbre last year when the company suspended him for three weeks for calling N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell a “liar” during a podcast and effectively dared his bosses to fire him. Simmons became a free-speech martyr during his absence, with the likes of Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow supporting him. Those who spoke out on his behalf on Twitter used the hashtag #FreeSimmons.”
Skipper said that the incident had no bearing on his decision to end ESPN’s relationship with Simmons.
Now the intrigue will begin about his next step. Simmons could join another traditional media company, like Fox, or a digital media outlet like Yahoo. Or he could use his high profile to start his own multimedia platform with investment from private equity.
Bill Simmons and ESPN Are Parting Ways
Bill Simmons, who built a personal empire at ESPN and is one of America’s most influential sports personalities, will leave the media giant when his contract expires in the fall. He and the company were unable to reach an extension after months of talks.
“I’ve decided that I’m not going to renew his contract,” said John Skipper, the president of ESPN. “We’ve been talking to Bill and his agent and it was clear we weren’t going to get to the terms so we were better off focusing on transition.”
Skipper said that the differences between the company and Simmons were “about more than money,” although he would not offer details. He added: “We’ve had an excellent run with Bill, almost 15 years. It’s been good for us and good for him. It was a decision I had to make and he had to make to move forward.”
Grantland, the sports and entertainment site run by Simmons for ESPN, will be unaffected by his departure, Skipper said.
“It long ago went from being a Bill Simmons site to one that can stand on its own,” Skipper said.
Simmons’s contract expires at the end of September.
The outspoken Simmons built himself into a major brand at ESPN, branching out from his base as a freewheeling columnist to host a popular weekly podcast, the B.S. Report; to create Grantland; and to play a role in the launch and success of the “30 for 30” documentary film series.
But his future at ESPN became a cause célèbre last year when the company suspended him for three weeks for calling N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell a “liar” during a podcast and effectively dared his bosses to fire him. Simmons became a free-speech martyr during his absence, with the likes of Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow supporting him. Those who spoke out on his behalf on Twitter used the hashtag #FreeSimmons.”
Skipper said that the incident had no bearing on his decision to end ESPN’s relationship with Simmons.
Now the intrigue will begin about his next step. Simmons could join another traditional media company, like Fox, or a digital media outlet like Yahoo. Or he could use his high profile to start his own multimedia platform with investment from private equity.
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exactly dude knows basketball history but doesn't understand it. And he's biased as fukk.
as far as Grantland and 30for30, he should have never let ESPN gain ownership over them.
ZackMorris
I sit next to Spike
What happens with the 30 for 30s and Grantland?
He can be annoying as fukk bringing up the Celtics no matter the topic but can't the deny the things he brought to the table for ESPN
He can be annoying as fukk bringing up the Celtics no matter the topic but can't the deny the things he brought to the table for ESPN
Reid2Achieve
Superstar
Bill Simmons did a LOT for ESPN and is not a yes man. They clashed all the time. He probably was demanding like $20 million annually or something outrageous.
I knew it was only a matter of time before he said fuk it and either left to another company or went independent. However, I doubt he has the money to buy out Grantland, 30 for 30, and all the writers and such from each.
I knew it was only a matter of time before he said fuk it and either left to another company or went independent. However, I doubt he has the money to buy out Grantland, 30 for 30, and all the writers and such from each.
ESPN is keeping Grantland and Bill has been trashing them pretty much for 2 years so its no surprise that ESPN was not going to re-sign him. Bill can go off and build another empire like Dan Patrick but he still needs access to the to sports world so he probably will sign a contract with Fox, Turner or NBC which will still get him access...
KnowledgeDropper
All Star
His best bet is to go to Marisa Meyer at Yahoo to get a bunch of money and buy out the writers and everything.
