It may not come as a shock that Bomani Jones won’tt have his contract renewed by ESPN. It seems that his approach doesn’t align with what ESPN is currently aiming for. Jones may be deemed too intelligent and composed for the sort of content ESPN is interested in generating. ESPN never seemed interested in finding the proper fit for him.
ESPN does not plan to renew the contract of journalist Bomani Jones, Front Office Sports has learned. His current contract with ESPN expires at the end of this month as the network separately laid off 20 on-air personalities amid broader cost-cutting moves from parent company Disney.
Last fall, Jones signed a contract extension with ESPN to host his three-times per week podcast, “The Right Time with Bomani Jones.” His show is the second-highest-rated podcast among ESPN’s 35+ shows, but the network has not shown interest in renewing his contract, Jones told FOS in New York prior to speaking during the Writers Guild of America’s Sports Solidarity Day held on the picket line outside of the CBS Broadcast Center.
“The economic fate of people in sports media is getting dicier and dicier by the day,” Jones told FOS. “I think the ESPN layoffs were the beginning of it in a lot of ways. Seeing what happened [with] the New York Times shutting down their sports department and they moved those people to other desks, but at some point they’re probably going to deem those people to be surplus and they’re not going to be there anymore.”
Jones is widely respected in the industry for his highly successful podcast, and he shouldn’t have trouble finding new opportunities. Additionally, he could pursue independent ventures and achieve great success on his own.
It’s likely that Jones will findalented and highly sought-after. There will always be opportunities available to him, ensuring t a new job soon, as he is very that he’ll never be out of work for too long.