Stephen A. Smith works himself into $100 million ESPN contract
The newspaper columnist-turned-sports media analyst will continue to appear on Disney’s sports channel — and many other places.
The Walt Disney Company ($DIS) is an American mass media conglomerate that owns broadcast television, cable television and radio networks; theme parks, movie studios and the Disney+ streaming app. Its properties include ABC, 21st Century Fox, FX and Disney Plus. It co-owns cable sports channel ESPN with Hearst Communications.
The newspaper columnist-turned-sports media analyst will continue to appear on Disney’s sports channel — and many other places.
More sports fans say they’re willing to buy an SVOD service to watch live games, displacing broadcast and cable networks in Hub’s annual report.
The job cuts affect around 200 workers, and adds to Disney’s body count since it began laying off workers two years ago.
The change is intended to spotlight the company’s multi-platform distribution efforts.
Disney has gotten creative in claiming a year-over lift in Oscars viewership by counting those who watched some of the awards ceremony on their phones, tablets and PCs.
The streaming platform suffered from technical issues that prevented streamers from watching the telecast.
The plan is expected to cost between $20 and $30 less than Fubo’s current base programming package, and include access to major broadcast and sports-inclusive networks.
A glitch involving a live stream of the Oscars on Sunday kept many users of the video platform Hulu from seeing key moments from the awards ceremony.
Disney’s decision to integrate ESPN Plus content into Disney Plus via a content tile boosted its overall share of streaming sports during Q1, according to Gracenote.
The cable network and the professional sports league have mutually agreed to part ways.
The letter, sent by Senator Elizabeth Warren, may or may not be effective — depending on whether the DOJ wants to focus its efforts on Fubo or Disney.
The standalone ESPN streaming service could cost as much as $30 per month, but it is also expected to include add-ons like access to ESPN Plus.