USA/ESPN: possible sale of part of the group to the NBA, MLB & NFL (press)

The US media and entertainment conglomerate The Walt Disney Company is reportedly exploring the possibility of selling a minority stake in pay-TV group ESPN to the NBA, MLB and NFL in the United States, according to information reported by the American financial news channel CNBC on 21/07/2023.

Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and James Pitaro, CEO of ESPN, reportedly met with representatives of the three North American leagues. "Selling a minority stake in ESPN to the leagues could mitigate future rights payments, allowing Disney to better compete with the big balance sheets of Apple, Google and Amazon," said CNBC. On the other hand, "ESPN also employs hundreds of journalists that cover the major sports leagues" the sale of part of ESPN could "cloud the perception of objectivity for ESPN’s reporting apparatus."

Founded in 1975, ESPN was acquired by Disney in 1996 for $19bn. It is now 80% owned by The Walt Disney Company and 20% by the American media group Hearst Corporation.

United States: ESPN broadcasts the NBA (2016-2025), MLB (2022-2028) and NFL (2023-2033)

NBA …