NABET-CWA Signs Major Sports Event Agreement with ABC; Contract Coverage Extends to ESPN

NABET-CWA has signed an agreement with ABC Television which will provide union contract coverage for a number of events airing on many ESPN platforms starting later this summer. That agreement was announced on July 2, 2014, by NABET-CWA President Jim Joyce. NABET-CWA members already work on ESPN studio shows such as "Olbermann," "Pardon the Interruption," "Around the Horn," and "Highly Questionable," as well as on "ESPN on ABC" broadcasts such as NASCAR races and NBA games.

Under this new agreement, ABC Television will continue to provide crews for "ESPN on ABC" broadcasts as well as for certain events airing on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN News, The Longhorn Network and the SEC-ESPN Network. These crews will work for ABC under terms contained in the NABET-CWA/ABC Master Agreement as well as the Sports Agreement. ABC Television and ESPN are both subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company.

"This agreement will bring the economic stability and the important benefits of our contract to the many freelancers who work on ESPN broadcasts. Most of these workers will have healthcare benefits and retirement security benefits for the first time as the result of working at ESPN," stated President Joyce. He added, "We expect this agreement to serve as a new cornerstone in our partnership with the Walt Disney Company."

Further information on this agreement will be provided to NABET-CWA members in the coming days.