Disney is considering selling ESPN and looking for a strategic partner due to cord-cutting. The history and decline of ESPN is explored. The convenience of cable TV and Rocket Money, a subscription management app, is discussed. The changing landscape of sports broadcasting and the challenges faced by non-tech savvy fans are highlighted.
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Quick takeaways
Disney is looking for a strategic partner to invest in ESPN amidst the challenges of cord-cutting and declining subscriber base.
The rise of streaming services and personalized media consumption requires ESPN to adapt to a fragmented sports broadcasting landscape.
Deep dives
Bob Iger's uncertainty about selling ESPN
Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, has expressed uncertainty about selling ESPN. While he insists that Disney does not want to sell the sports network, he is open to finding a strategic partner for ESPN, someone who could buy the company or invest in a portion of it. This highlights the changing landscape of the media industry and the need for new approaches to sustain ESPN's value.
The decline of cable TV and ESPN's changing relevance
The rise of cord-cutting and the changing consumer preferences have affected the relevance of cable TV and led to declines in ESPN's subscriber base. With the availability of streaming services and niche sports content, consumers now have a wide range of options to choose from. ESPN's once dominant position as the go-to sports network has been challenged, and the network now faces the need to adapt to a new era of fragmented and personalized media consumption.
The future of sports broadcasting and the role of streaming platforms
As cable TV declines and streaming services rise, the sports broadcasting landscape is shifting. Leagues and sports rights holders are renegotiating deals with TV networks, aiming to extract higher fees for their content. Major streaming platforms such as Amazon and Apple are entering the fray, seeking to acquire rights to sports events. This shift to streaming and the fragmentation of sports content distribution means that sports enthusiasts may have to subscribe to multiple platforms to access all the games and events they are interested in.
Disney CEO Bob Iger says the company is looking for a “strategic partner” to invest in the massive sports network, which has been struggling in an era of cord-cutting. Peter Kafka explains what it could mean for fans.
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.