ESPN Looks to Sell X Games as It Deals With Streaming Pressure

When Jimmy Pitaro got the job of running ESPN in 2018, it was a dream come true for the lifelong sports fan. But the reality of running ESPN has been a far different story, as Pitaro has found himself presiding over a network in decline.

ESPN last November laid off 300 people, about 6% of its workforce, a gut-wrenching move for what was once the profit engine of Walt Disney Co. Now ESPN is considering selling small parts of its business. For instance, it is trying to sell its X Games extreme sports franchise, a 25-year-old effort to bring in younger fans that never fully took off, according to people familiar with the situation.