Disney just worked out a licensing deal for ESPN and gambling, bringing in a couple of billion over the next ten years (and sending Barstool Sports back into control of Dave Portnoy for $1 and some non-compete agreements).
Now, while announcing streaming price hikes, account sharing crackdowns, and acknowledging the ongoing Hollywood strikes, Disney CEO Bob Iger said the following about ESPN:
Taking our ESPN flagship channels direct to consumer is not a matter of if, but when,” Iger said. “And the team is hard at work looking at all components of this decision, including pricing and timing... overall, we’re considering potential strategic partnerships for ESPN, looking at distribution, technology, marketing, and content opportunities where we retain control of ESPN
[The Walt Disney Company]
