Walt Disney Co.
Sport drives Disney’s first streaming profit
Walt Disney's combined streaming business was profitable for the first time in the third quarter, helped by ESPN+, as the US entertainment giant moved back into the black
ESPN+ subscriptions dip, Iger ‘encouraged’ by strategic partner talks
ESPN's direct-to-consumer offering, ESPN+, has seen a dip in subscriptions from 25.3 million in the prior quarter ending April 1 to 25.2 million subscribers as of July 1
Disney open to selling stake in ESPN, says Iger
Disney is considering selling an equity stake in ESPN and is "open-minded" in finding a strategic partner, according to its chief executive officer Bob Iger
Iger extends as Disney CEO through 2026
The Walt Disney Company has extended chief executive officer Bob Iger's contract through the end of the 2026 calendar year
Disney cable revenue falls as ESPN+ subscribers pass 25m
Walt Disney Company has posted a 7-per-cent reduction in linear networks revenue for the most recent quarter due to falls across both domestic and international channels, as ESPN’s streaming service, E…
Ally and Disney to shine spotlight on women’s sport through ACC-focused deal
US financial services company Ally has agreed a multi-year marketing deal with the Walt Disney Company focusing on the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) college sports organisation that is designed to advance…
Disney targets $5.5bn in cost savings, Iger ‘not considering’ ESPN spin-off
Walt Disney Company chief executive Bob Iger has said that the company is "not considering a spin-off" of its flagship sports broadcaster ESPN during the question and answer portion of Disney's first-quarter…
Nike’s Mark Parker named Walt Disney chairman of board
Nike executive chairman Mark Parker has been named the chairman of the board by ESPN parent the Walt Disney Co
Rays to shift Spring Training to Disney complex, Tropicana Field
MLB club finalizes alternate plan after hurricane damage to existing facility
Adam Davis on forging new opportunities for Two Circles
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Adam Davis, managing director of North America for Two Circles. Fisher and Russo also discuss Merritt Paulson’s move to sell the National Women’s Soccer League’s Portland Thorns, the National Basketball Association’s embrace of new sources of team investor capital, accelerated plans to expand the College Football Playoff, Major League Baseball’s sale of its BAMTech equity stake, the Boston Red Sox’s jersey patch sale, and the departure of Lenny Daniels from Warner Bros. Discovery.
Disney pays MLB $900m for remaining stake in BAMTech
ESPN parent completes series of transactions for streaming technology entity
Josh Rawitch on a new vision for the Baseball Hall of Fame
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Fisher and Russo also discuss Glazer family’s move to consider selling Premier League giants Manchester United, initial business results from the start of the 2022 men’s Fifa World Cup, Bob Iger’s return to lead the Walt Disney Co. and the impact on ESPN, revived dealmaking in youth sports, and Major League Baseball’s offseason free agency period.
ESPN’s Pitaro given additional duties in Iger-led reorg of Disney
Sports network to have prominent role in shaping new direction for parent company
Disney reinstates Iger as CEO in surprise move
Longtime company executive returns to the helm as Chapek is forced out just months after signing a contract extension
Cheez-It named Citrus Bowl title sponsor
Kellogg-owned snack brand expands its college football bowl sponsorships
Jesse Cole on reinventing the notion of fan engagement
In this week’s episode, podcast co-hosts Eric Fisher and Chris Russo interview Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas. Fisher and Russo also discuss the still-turbulent world of sports streaming amid a new batch of third-quarter earnings reports, the strategic merger between Major League Pickleball and the Vibe Pickleball League, the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX that has led to a bankruptcy filing and dissolution of some sports sponsorships, the National Basketball Association’s move to heighten its strategic investment activity, and deepened chaos for prominent social media platform Twitter under new owner Elon Musk.
Disney posts what it calls ‘peak’ losses in its DTC operations
Streaming subscribers continue to grow for ESPN parent, but so do operating losses
Disney, Dish Network reach carriage deal to end brief blackout
Suite of channels including ESPN had gone dark on satellite service, Sling TV