ESPN
NFL playoff ratings soar in divisional round
The National Football League has set records during its live postseason coverage across the main US networks
NFL ‘in advanced talks’ to take ESPN stake
Disney and the National Football League have held "advanced talks" over the latter taking an equity stake in ESPN, it has been claimed
ESPN ‘in talks over six-year College Football Playoff deal’
The College Football Playoff and ESPN are in “the midst of negotiations” to renew the network as the sole rights-holder for the premier college sports event as it expands from four to 12 teams.Acc
NCAA bundles women’s basketball into $920m, eight-year ESPN deal
The National Collegiate Athletic Association has agreed a new eight-year domestic and international rights deal with ESPN for 40 of its championships in an agreement worth $920m (€840m).
NFL networks net bumper audiences from Christmas Day fixtures
The National Football League's (NFL) Christmas Day triple-header was a television ratings success, attracting average viewership of 28.7 million
Sky snaps up US college sports rights at low cost
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky’s acquisition of US college football and basketball rights from ESPN will provide good exposure for American university sport through to the end of the 2024-25 season, but little in the way of remuneration.
ESPN stalwart Wolff to take up Sixth Street position
Russell Wolff, who recently left ESPN after 26 years with the Disney-owned sports broadcaster, is joining global investment firm Sixth Street
ESPN adds Seoul, Mexico City series to MLB international slate
ESPN will televise four international Major League Baseball games across three continents in 2024, after striking new deals for the Seoul Series and Mexico City Series
ESPN renews PFL rights in ‘multi-year’ deal
Disney-owned sports broadcaster ESPN has renewed its rights in the US to the Professional Fighters League mixed martial arts promotion
USL scores sizeable domestic rights increase
The United Soccer League, America's second-tier, will see its annual domestic media rights revenue rise sharply over the next four seasons thanks to new deals with Paramount and ESPN.
NWSL lands record four-year $240m domestic rights deals
The National Women's Soccer League has agreed the largest media rights deals in women's sport in contracts spanning four years worth $60m (€56m) annually, with games airing on CBS, ESPN, Amazon and Scripps S…
ESPN has strong quarter as D2C shift and strategic partner loom
Disney is still searching for a strategic partner for ESPN and is fully set on taking the sports property entirely direct-to-consumer as it posted an operating income increase of 16 per cent to $987m (€922m) i…
ESPN financials released by Disney ahead of Q3 earnings
Disney has outlined a new financial reporting structure following the reorganisation of the company into three segments earlier this year, when ESPN and sports were separated from the entertainment divisions
TGL opts for ‘linear-first’ exclusive US rights deal with ESPN
ESPN’s exclusive ‘multi-year’ US rights deal announced today (Thursday) for golf’s new TGL league will place a strong focus on linear programming as it aims to entice casual sports fans.
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Disney-Charter deal may signal ‘tipping point’ for the future of live sports in US
The streaming aspect of the deal between Disney and cable company Charter Communications may have set the groundwork for future deals involving other carriers and networks.
ESPN sets sights on securing strategic investment and renewing NBA rights
ESPN is now laser-focused on investment conversations and retaining domestic National Basketball Association rights after completing a tough carriage renegotiation with Charter Spectrum, its president…
NFL opening weekend, college football score major US viewership
The return of the National Football League, combined with a strong slate of college games, drew major audiences across US television, including a record for Monday Night Football on ESPN
Disney, Charter Spectrum reach new deal to end NFL blackout
Disney and Charter Communications have announced a new multi-year distribution deal that restores select Disney stations, including ESPN, to Spectrum's customers