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ESPN has radically improved the freedom it gives its on-air talent.
A prime example of this change is Pablo Torre, who has been with ESPN since 2012 but accepted a full-time position with Meadowlark Media last year.
Torre started the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast in September for Meadowlark, the company founded by former ESPN host Dan Le Batard and former ESPN president John Skipper. He told TheStreet that he has a small ownership stake in the project. He also appears once a week on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
But he’s still a semi-regular guest on ESPN shows like “Around The Horn” and “Pardon The Interruption.”
The business relationship between ESPN and Torrey reflects the company’s evolving strategy with its talent, allowing them to build their personal brand elsewhere while also being employed by Disney. (Dis) Brand.
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ESPN’s strategy with Toure applies to many of its biggest names.
Torre said on the “SI Media with Jimmy Traina” podcast on Thursday, June 27, that when he spoke with ESPN about his decision to go to Meadowlark Media, he suggested a deal where he could still work with the network. Torrey appreciated the TV time, which would have been limited with Meadowlark Media because his show would be on digital airwaves.
He said ESPN was “shockingly diplomatic” about the proposal.
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“What’s very important to them is that I don’t go on the air as a linear sports TV competitor,” Tory said. “Like, don’t go to Fox Sports 1, don’t go to Peacock or NBC Sports.”
Torre praised ESPN’s ability to adapt to its talent in a way that other mainstream media outlets may not have been able to do in the wake of the rise of the Internet.
“I will tell you what hasn’t caught up with reality yet is how media companies view the internet, which is fascinating to me,” Tory said. “So, let’s just say, I’m grateful for the difference in priorities and incentives. [ESPN’s] It’s still a TV company, and it’s the shows that matter most to them. But for me, the question was: Can I do both? The question was: “Yes, can you prove your worth on TV so that you don’t have to worry about the things you say?”
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Torrey also mentioned Stephen A. Smith, the face of ESPN’s daytime producer, served as an example of the network’s ability to allow its employees to build followings outside the network umbrella.
“I’ll point to Stephen A. Smith’s podcast, and just see what he’s doing on there, and you’ll feel the greater freedom now that is certainly available to the biggest stars and that trickles down as you go through the talent hierarchy,” Torre said.
Smith and Torre certainly aren’t the only ones working outside the ESPN umbrella. Shannon Sharpe also has his own podcast, Pat McAfee is a commentator on WWE Raw among other things, and Mina Kimes is a fixture on Meadowlark Media’s programming.
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