LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers played a game against the LA Clippers at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 30, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Disney is considering a strategic partner for ESPN, and CEO Bob Iger and ESPN head Jimmy Pitaro have discussed the possibility of bringing professional sports leagues on as minority investors, including the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Preliminary discussions have been held with these leagues about new partnerships and investment structures. Talks with the NFL have been connected to the league’s desire for a company to take a stake in its media assets. The NBA and Disney have also discussed potential structures for a renewal of media rights. Disney is looking for a strategic partner for ESPN as it moves towards streaming and is open to selling a stake in the business. ESPN owns 80% of the network, while Hearst owns the remaining 20%. The idea of a jointly owned subscription streaming service involving multiple leagues could provide consumers with new game packages and other innovative ways to consume content. However, there may be conflicts of interest if the leagues own a stake in ESPN, as it could irritate Disney’s competitors and potentially impact the perception of objectivity in ESPN’s reporting apparatus. ESPN is transitioning to a digital-first, streaming entity and hopes to become a streaming hub for all live sports. While striking a deal with professional sports leagues may not be easy, Disney is exploring all possibilities to adapt to the future of streaming and maximize its sports rights portfolio.
ESPN engages in talks with NBA, NFL, MLB to find strategic partner
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