ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro explains how the network plans to grow amid cord-cutting, rising sports-rights costs and the shift to direct-to-consumer streaming. He also discusses ESPN’s interest in future World Cup rights, local NBA broadcasts, its expanding NFL relationship and the role of ESPN within Disney’s broader streaming strategy.

ESPN is navigating one of the most consequential transitions in sports media: maintaining the value of traditional pay television while building a direct-to-consumer streaming business that reaches fans wherever they choose to watch.

In this episode of CNBC Sport, Alex Sherman speaks with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro about the network’s strategy for growing audiences and operating income as cord-cutting continues, advertising remains under pressure and the cost of premium sports rights rises.

Pitaro explains why ESPN is pursuing parallel distribution paths rather than abandoning the cable bundle. Traditional pay-TV subscribers can access ESPN’s direct-to-consumer features through the ESPN app, while viewers without cable can subscribe through ESPN’s standalone service or streaming bundles involving Disney+, Hulu, NFL+ Premium and Fox One.

The conversation also explores ESPN’s ambition to remain the “front door” for sports fans by reducing friction and bringing more live sports content into a single app. Pitaro discusses the integration of CW Sports and NFL Network programming, as well as ESPN’s broader partnership with the NFL following its acquisition of NFL Network, NFL RedZone linear rights and the RedZone brand.

Other topics include ESPN’s disciplined approach to sports-rights spending, its interest in bidding for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cups, and its desire to help solve the local sports-media challenges created by the decline of regional sports networks. Pitaro outlines how ESPN could use its reach and technology to distribute local NBA and other in-market games, potentially through non-exclusive agreements.

The episode also covers Major League Baseball’s labor outlook, changes improving the pace and presentation of baseball, the growth and current tensions surrounding the WNBA, and ESPN’s strategic importance within Disney under CEO Josh D’Amaro.

Topics discussed:

• ESPN’s direct-to-consumer and pay-TV strategy
• Cord-cutting, advertising pressure and operating-income growth
• Pricing and bundling for ESPN, Disney+ and Hulu
• ESPN’s partnership with the NFL and integration of NFL Network
• The value and rising cost of premium sports rights
• Potential bids for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cups
• Local NBA media rights and regional sports network alternatives
• MLB streaming rights and possible labor disruptions
• WNBA growth, media coverage and Caitlin Clark
• ESPN’s role in Disney’s broader streaming strategy

Timestamps:

01:45 ESPN’s ratings growth and parallel distribution strategy
04:10 Measuring direct-to-consumer growth and total ESPN households
05:14 ESPN pricing and the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN bundle
06:09 Future media partnerships and streaming bundles
07:50 CW Sports and NFL Network integration
08:17 ESPN’s relationship with the NFL
09:43 Balancing NFL costs with the broader sports-rights portfolio
10:58 ESPN’s interest in future FIFA World Cup rights
12:37 Local NBA broadcasts and regional sports network alternatives
15:03 MLB rights, labor uncertainty and contingency planning
16:49 WNBA growth, tension and ESPN’s coverage responsibilities
18:21 ESPN’s role under Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro
19:46 ESPN’s financial performance and transparency

Brands, leagues and services mentioned include ESPN, CNBC Sport, Disney+, Hulu, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NFL+ Premium, Fox One, CW Sports, YouTube TV, DirecTV, Comcast, Charter, the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL and FIFA.

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