ESPN is objecting to telecommunications company Verizon’s new payment planning structure for its FiOS TV pay-television service, while long-time executive Sean Bratches has announced he will leave the US sports broadcaster at the end of the year.
The Associated Press news agency said ESPN is claiming its contracts with Verizon prohibit its channels from being in a separate sports package. In new plans that went into effect Sunday, Verizon made the ESPN and ESPN2 sports channels optional as it seeks ways to make its packages more affordable for customers.
Verizon has launched a FiOS plan that starts at $55 (€51) a month for a basic tier of 35 channels plus two themed channel packs. ESPN and ESPN2 are included in a sports pack, with customers afforded the option of adding additional packs for $10 each.
ESPN is the most expensive basic cable network for pay-television distributors, according to estimates from data provider SNL Kagan. It gets $6.61 per average subscriber per month, compared with TNT, which comes in second at $1.65.
Meanwhile, ESPN has said that executive vice-president of sales and marketing Bratches (pictured) will leave the company at the end of 2015. He will serve in an advisory capacity to ESPN until that time.
Bratches joined ESPN in 1988 as an account executive in affiliate marketing. He has led the affiliate sales groups at both ESPN and the Walt Disney Company, as well as ESPN’s advertising sales, research, consumer marketing, consumer products and special events areas since being named to his current position in 2005.
“Sean is an extremely well-respected and admired industry visionary whose contributions to ESPN’s success cannot be overstated,” ESPN president John Skipper said. “We have all greatly appreciated his energy, integrity and service to ESPN, our employees and our industry.
“He told me recently he wants to take on new challenges, after achieving so much with us – an understandable goal given his vision, business savvy and relentlessly positive impact on people. He will certainly be missed, but through his efforts we are blessed with a wealth of executives well-qualified to keep ESPN moving forward.”