Disney’s carriage fee dispute game plan: The company blocked access to ESPN and more for DirecTV customers, flexing its power over pay TV providers.
Article
| Sep 3, 2024
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the media companies with the highest TV usage, how ESPN is being maneuvered, how multiple new streaming bundles will change the game, and a tie up between Walmart and Disney for enhanced targeting and measurement across streaming. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Paul Verna.
Audio
| May 21, 2024
Forecasts
| Sep 20, 2023
Source: EMARKETER Forecast
On today's podcast episode, we discuss how all the different TV terms fit together, to what degree subscription revenues are moving from pay TV to streaming, who's winning the "digital pay TV" race, and how the new sports streaming service from Fox, ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery could change everything. "In Other News," we talk about what a new sponsor logo placement from the WWE will look like and how the US ad market is getting on to start the year. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Ross Benes.
Audio
| Mar 14, 2024
On today's podcast episode, we discuss how the upcoming giant sports streaming service from Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and ESPN benefits The Walt Disney Co.; what will happen when Hulu and Disney+ combine; and why Disney is now choosing to invest so much in Epic Games. "In Other News," we talk about what to make of Roku's current market position and what YouTube Premium has taught us about ad-free video. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Ross Benes.
Audio
| Mar 7, 2024
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the main takeaways from this year's Super Bowl; which ads had the biggest impact; how Fox, ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD's) new giant sports streaming service announcement changes the game; some unbelievable facts about trees; and more. Tune in to the discussion with our forecasting writer Ethan Cramer-Flood, director of forecasting Oscar Orozco, and analyst Max Willens.
Audio
| Feb 16, 2024
Article
| Feb 8, 2024
These deals, valued at $76 billion, will see the NBA Finals continue on ABC/ESPN for the next 11 seasons. TNT Sports, a current NBA broadcast partner owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, may still contest these agreements, according to CEO David Zaslav. The deals await approval from the NBA's board of governors, expected to be a formality during its meeting in Las Vegas next week.
Article
| Jul 12, 2024
How this works: Disney's ABC and ESPN will continue to be the go-to channels for marquee events, including the NBA Finals and Christmas Day games. They will also broadcast NBA Saturday Primetime and NBA Sunday Showcase packages, ensuring high visibility for key matchups. NBCU is set to reintroduce NBA coverage, featuring opening night games and a new Sunday night primetime slot.
Article
| Jul 25, 2024
This year’s March Madness tournament soared to record viewership thanks to stars like Caitlin Clark, leading ESPN to sign a major deal and driving brands like Powerade to follow suit. As sports viewership grows, the brands that get in early and develop relationships will win out in the long term.
Article
| Aug 29, 2024
ESPN is also a valuable asset under Disney’s umbrella, attracting digital live sports viewers. But Disney’s lead is threatened by the growth of YouTube, which dominates time spent among young users. Viewership of The Disney Channel, the company’s child- and teen-centric network, has plummeted over the past decade.
Article
| Jul 24, 2024
In June, Disney rolled out playable ad formats on Hulu and ESPN. Viewers can use their connected TV remote to interact with a Quiz Show trivia game or a Beat the Clock challenge, both which feature an advertiser’s branding at the forefront. Topgolf, one of the first brands to test these, released an ad that asked viewers to adjust the power of the swing, then hit golf balls on target.
Article
| Aug 15, 2024
But it also focused its remaining ad spend on sports programming, commanding 23% of insurance ad impressions on ESPN. By contrast, Progressive’s ad spending stayed well above its competitors’, and it rose to become the most-seen insurance brand on TV over this time—increasing its share of ad impressions to 22.36%. Next steps: We expect insurers’ advertising spend to rise throughout 2024.
Article
| Jun 27, 2024
This collaboration aims to offer a subscription-based "skinny" bundle of sports channels, including ESPN, Fox Sports, and Warner Bros. Discovery networks, alongside ESPN+. The service is set to launch in the fall of 2024, with an additional option to bundle Disney+, Hulu, and Max.
Article
| May 17, 2024
They include adding an ESPN content tile within the Disney+ platform by late 2024 and plans the launch of standalone ESPN streaming service in 2025. Moreover, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that the company would start enforcing measures against password sharing starting in June, following a model similar to Netflix.
Article
| May 7, 2024
Will streamers band together to create a sports broadcast hub? ESPN is trying to persuade competitors to jump on board, and revenue pressures could sway them.
Article
| Mar 6, 2023
ESPN, Amazon, and Warner Bros. Discovery are negotiating for NBA streaming rights. Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney are planning a joint sports venture to compete with Amazon, which has Thursday Night Football, even as smaller streamers like Fubo ask regulators to probe the plans. Netflix is about to become the home of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Article
| May 10, 2024
But these companies, especially ESPN, have a lot of digital sports that isn't on the TV network and I don't get the sense that's on here. You'd have to subscribe separately to ESPN+, even though ESPN is one-third of this thing. Max Willens:. It's very dangerous to market something and I guess we don't know that this is how it's going to be marketed because they have yet to start publicizing it.
Audio
| Aug 23, 2024
Disney and Charter’s carriage fee clash is a landmark moment: A new deal includes Disney+ and ESPN subscriptions for the linear TV service’s customers.
Article
| Sep 12, 2023
Amazon and Disney could team up on ESPN: Thursday Night Football could make Amazon a desirable partner for ESPN’s uncertain streaming future.
Article
| Aug 28, 2023
On today's podcast episode, we discuss whether the way people watch sports has changed, if Uber and Lyft will ever be able to turn a profit, whether Peacock can keep its head above water, what happened to the TikTok ban, what The Walt Disney Co. should do with ESPN, who's not on the internet, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our forecasting writer Ethan Cramer-Flood and analysts Bill Fisher and Max Willens.
Audio
| Aug 24, 2023
It looks like gambling is coming to ESPN: Disney is reported to be close to striking a deal with sportsbook DraftKings.
Article
| Oct 10, 2022
These include ongoing negotiations with Comcast to broadcast games for 12 teams through Diamond Sports and the looming decision by ESPN on whether to continue its $550 million annual contract for key MLB broadcasts.
Article
| May 3, 2024
On today's podcast episode, we discuss why Disney+ is losing users, what a Disney+ password-sharing crackdown would look like, and the impact of ESPN Bet. "In Other News," we talk about what the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers is offering at the latest writers strike negotiations and why The Roku Channel has become a legitimate player in the streaming wars. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Daniel Konstantinovic.
Audio
| Aug 22, 2023
On today's episode, we discuss what AI-generated ads will look like, TikTok testing a new AI chatbot called Tako, Formula One finding a new way to advertise on its cars, ESPN offering its channel as a standalone streaming service, what using VR in a car will look like, visualizing the US workforce as 100 people, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our forecasting writer Ethan Cramer-Flood, director of forecasting Oscar Orozco, and analyst Max Willens.
Audio
| Jun 2, 2023