Disney CEO Bob Iger recently announced that the company is in talks with various entities regarding an equity partnership for ESPN.
Disney’s plan to launch a direct-to-consumer version of ESPN remains on track for a debut in 2025.
CEO Bob Iger says the company is also in talks with “a number of different entities” on an ESPN equity partnership — one of the most anticipated deals in all of sports media.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) November 9, 2023
This has been one of the most highly anticipated deals in the sports media industry.
As Disney reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, Iger expressed that negotiations are still ongoing with multiple entities for potential pacts that would help Disney in offering a full direct-to-consumer (DTC) version of ESPN.
Iger mentioned that there is significant interest from different parties, and while there are complexities involved, they are not insurmountable.
He stated, “We’re continuing to explore it, and I would imagine we’ll have more to say about this in the coming months.”
The equity discussions were initiated in the summer and have involved major professional leagues, as well as companies like Amazon and Verizon.
Currently, the focus is increasingly shifting towards the NFL and NBA.
However, Disney’s plan to offer a DTC version of ESPN is still on track and is expected to launch by 2025.
The goal is to have a soft landing by continuing to provide ESPN as part of the cable bundle, while also offering it on a true a-la-carte basis for consumers who prefer a new way of accessing content.
