Disney CEO Bob Iger Addresses the Future of ESPN
The future of ESPN was once again a hot topic when Disney CEO Bob Iger took the stage at Morgan Stanley’s TMT Conference on Thursday afternoon.
While some Wall Street insiders believe that Disney should spin the entity off into its own company, Bob Iger remains bullish on the future of the flagship sports network.
![ESPN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ESPN-Logo-1024x380.png)
![ESPN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ESPN-Logo-1024x380.png)
Credit: ESPN
“One of the reasons we’re optimistic is we know the power and the popularity of live sports. And we know how attractive it is. Not just to consumers but to advertisers,” Iger said.
A Future In Streaming
While the flagship station remains a popular television entity, Iger believes that the future of the property will be in streaming.
![Iger Biden](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BobIger.jpg)
![Iger Biden](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/BobIger.jpg)
Photo Credit: ABCNews.go.com
ESPN+ currently has over 25 million subscribers.
“At this point, [ESPN+] is what I call a flanker business or brand to the main ESPN brand. Down the road, at some point, I think it’s inevitable…[ESPN] will become a direct-to-consumer business,” he said, calling out the lucrative combination of live sports, brand value, and advertising. “There’s a reason to be bullish.”
![ESPN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-15-at-8.39.38-AM-1024x599.png)
![ESPN](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-15-at-8.39.38-AM-1024x599.png)
Photo: ESPN+
Disney Will Remain Open-Minded
Despite being optimistic about the future of ESPN, that doesn’t mean that Iger and Disney won’t be open-minded about what that future looks like.
“We think we’re well positioned,” Iger said regarding EPSN. “And it doesn’t mean that we’re not going to be open-minded about its future. But right now, we’re bullish about it.”
![Walt Disney Company](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/disney-logo.jpg.webp)
![Walt Disney Company](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/disney-logo.jpg.webp)
Photo: InsideHook
Although the brand has profitability issues, Iger and Disney believe that ESPN is essential to the company’s future.
An Interictal Part of the Future
When Iger unveiled his long-promised corporate restructuring last month, ESPN was one of the three main departments to make up the new organizational structure.
Furthermore, current ESPN head honcho Jimmy Pitaro is reportedly on the short list of candidates to replace Bob Iger as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.
![Jimmy Pitaro](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Jimmy-Pitaro-1024x683.jpg)
![Jimmy Pitaro](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Jimmy-Pitaro-1024x683.jpg)
Photo: Disney
Whatever happens, it is clear that the future of the Walt Disney Company will be highly tied to what happens with ESPN.
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