Great place to work. Few opportunities to advance
Pros
The company has a genuine and total focus on serving sports fans, and creating programming and services that fans want. They are extremely innovative both creatively and technologically. Always one of the first on new technological platforms.
Cons
Not a good place to work for women (I am a man). There are few opportunities for anyone to advance, regardless of gender. An old guard still runs the Programming, Production, Administration and other departments, which stifles creativity. They are not welcoming to those who started their careers at other companies, and promotions and good assignments usually go to those who started careers at ESPN right out pf college. ESPN has **extremely** homogeneous employees and a complete lack of diversity. There are an average number of employees of color, but they tend to be from upper middle class suburbs and Ivy League schools. There is a lot of pressure to fit in to the Connecticut suburb/white picket fence/let's play golf/my kids play lacrosse, hockey and soccer/I like beer mindset. Has gotten complacent over the past 15 years of dominating the sports business. The Affiliate Relations department is different, and more diverse and dynamic than other divisions, with more opportunities to advance and is more of a meritocracy open than other departments. Salaries are low, even compared to people at sister companies at Disney who do the same work.
