ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro Reflects on the Network’s Successful 2024
As the calendar turns from 2024 to 2025, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro wrote an open letter to employees, reflecting on the network’s historic year.
The last twelve months were eventful for the Worldwide Leader in Sports. Even as the media landscape shifted towards streaming, ESPN delivered record ratings with its WNBA, college basketball, college football, and NFL presentations.


Photo: Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAYSports/NPSTrans/troppic
Already boasting the biggest roster in sports media, ESPN added Nick Saban, Jason Kelce, Bill Belichick, Cam Newton, and Shams Charania to its platform.


Photo: People
The network also extended its agreement with Peyton and Eli Manning and is closing in on a new contract with Stephen A. Smith.
ESPN’s Inroads on Streaming
Turning to streaming, the ESPN tile officially debuted on Disney+, making it even easier for users to find the network’s documentaries, original programs, and broadcasts. The one-app experience is expected to drive subscribers to ESPN+ and reduce churn.


Photo: Disney
Next year, ESPN Flagship will hit the market, marking the dawn of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer era.
Speaking of streaming, ESPN continued to develop new ways to engage fans with their The Simpsons Funday Football and Dunk the Halls broadcasts, which delivered animated NFL and NBA games.


Photo: Disney/ESPN
Finally, ESPN continued to embrace sports gambling with the further integration of ESPN BET into their programming.
Looking Ahead
While Pitaro stressed the massive succeses that ESPN had in 2024, the chairman closed his letter by looking ahead to an even better 2025.


ESPN
“I cannot say enough about the total team effort by everyone at ESPN in making 2024 such a historic year. Our creativity and unrelenting service to sports fans will continue in 2025,” he wrote.


Photo: ESPN Press Room
“We thank you for your continued interest in ESPN and look forward to sharing our strategy and progress further in the months ahead. As I like to say, I like our hand.”
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