Disney’s ESPN Plots Its Streaming Future, Seeking Tie-Ups With Leagues and Rival
ESPN is hunting for a strategic partner as it tries to bring order to the messy world of sports streaming—and secure its own future in the process. Talks with potential partners and investors have touched on several roles ESPN can play in the fragmented streaming industry, from carrying local broadcasts for pro sports teams to serving as an industrywide hub to stream any live game, people familiar with the discussions say.
On another track, ESPN is working to make a stand-alone version of its flagship TV channel available to cord-cutters in two to three years, or once its reach in the cable-TV world falls below 50 million households, people familiar with the plans say. Major League Baseball has had early talks with ESPN about having the network stream local baseball games in certain markets, people familiar with the matter said.
The bankruptcy of the largest local sports TV player, Diamond Sports Group, has led the league to explore new options for delivering games to consumers. ESPN could offer those baseball games as an add-on to its $9.99-a-month ESPN+ service, but it isn’t interested in paying a big fee for the media rights, as TV broadcasters have done.
ESPN sees the potential for similar arrangements with other pro sports leagues. Bob Iger, CEO of ESPN-parent Disney, announced last month that the sports network was seeking a strategic partner and was open to selling an equity stake.
The network, which is led by ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, has talked to other leagues, including the National Basketball Association, National Football League and the National Hockey League. Media executives say big tech players from Amazon to Google to Apple also would have a lot to offer in helping ESPN reach a big audience and sign up
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