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Streaming services are offering a multitude of bundles as they try to expand their ad-supported audiences.

That could mean exploring digital extensions or niche streaming offerings, similar to what ESPN is planning with its upcoming direct-to-consumer service. The spinoff will allow SpinCo to manage its own financials independently, without being tied to Peacock鈥檚 aggressive streaming investments. Our take: The formation of SpinCo signals that the traditional cable bundle is entering its final stage.

A Post Malone-fronted campaign and media placements on Amazon Thursday Night Football and ESPN are also boosting sales. Our take: Despite considerable uncertainty in the retail landscape, Deckers鈥� Ugg and Hoka brands are well-positioned to continue their hot streak in 2025.

ESPN and Amazon will join NBC as primary basketball broadcasters next season. Our take: NBC's ambitious NBA investment and early marketing push signal its commitment to reclaim a prominent role in sports broadcasting. Success will rest on effectively transitioning viewers from current rightsholders while capitalizing on Peacock's streaming capabilities.

MySports will offer access to all the channels that Venu planned to offer, including ESPN and TNT, plus the additional networks like NFL Network and NBA TV. Currently in a public beta, subscriptions start at $69.99 monthly, higher than Venu鈥檚 proposed $42.99 launch price鈥攖hough DirecTV is offering an introductory discount of $49.99 for the first three months.

Disney also surpasses 10% when its separate brands鈥擧ulu, ESPN, and Disney+鈥攁re combined. Hulu and Disney+ together will capture 10.8% of CTV ad sales in 2026. We do not have an estimate for ESPN ad revenues.

Netflix is entering live sports, while ESPN plans a comprehensive streaming app. Single teams' games now appear across up to five different services weekly. Our take: Amazon's positioning at the Upfronts represents a watershed moment in the advertising landscape; the company's blend of premium sports rights and advanced analytics positions it to claim a larger share of TV ad budgets.

The deal will allow Fubo to package all of Disney鈥檚 broadcast and sports networks into its service, giving it access to popular content from ABC, ESPN, and more. We expect US digital pay TV households to steadily increase over the next few years, from 20.3 million in 2025 to 22.2 million in 2028.

ESPN is launching a flagship streaming app that will include all linear content. As 蘑菇AV senior analyst Ross Benes noted in a recent webinar: 鈥淣etflix knows that if it puts $150 million on two Christmas games, it has a rough idea of how many people are going to watch. That's a safer bet than spending that on a movie.鈥�.

Disney鈥檚 password-sharing changes didn鈥檛 boost subscriptions鈥攜et: The company saw a slight dip in Disney+ subs as it faced a tough holiday period.

OTT video鈥攊ncluding YouTube, subscription OTT, AVOD, and free ad-supported streaming TV鈥攊s extremely popular in nearly all forms. But traditional pay TV continues to reach new lows.

ESPN and Formula 1 have reentered negotiations for a broadcast and streaming rights package, with their current deal set to end after the 2025 season. The previous agreement was extended in 2021 at a value of as much as $90 million annually, per Forbes. The NHL鈥檚 Canadian broadcasting rights deal with telecom giant Rogers Communications is also ending after the 2025 season.

Penn Entertainment, which launched the ESPN Bet platform with ESPN late last year, reported a smaller Q3 loss, citing unfavorable performance in the US Northeast and lower customer visits to its Southern casinos. Revenues inched up 1%. Still, the companies pointed to developments that bode well for growth. The number of ESPN Bet monthly active users increased 144% YoY in October.

McAfee's transition to ESPN further underlines Disney's push for more sports-oriented content, which builds on returning CEO Bob Iger鈥檚 February move to turn ESPN into one of the company鈥檚 three operating units, alongside Disney Parks and Disney Entertainment. ESPN+ continues to grow at a healthy clip (+27.1% year over year).

This year, streaming services will finally earn more than traditional TV in subscription revenues.

In September, Disney blocked access to its channels, including ESPN, on DirecTV after it being unsatisfied with carriage-fee negotiations, cutting off access to the NFL season kickoff and second presidential debate.

In September, Disney blocked access to its channels, including ESPN, on DirecTV after it being unsatisfied with carriage-fee negotiations, cutting off access to the NFL season kickoff and second presidential debate.

But ESPN Bet and Fanatics are both poised to enter the market with strong branding and reach, which will increase the pressure on incumbents.

They include adding an ESPN content tile within the Disney+ platform by late 2024 and plans the launch of standalone ESPN streaming service in 2025. Moreover, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that the company would start enforcing measures against password sharing starting in June, following a model similar to Netflix.

So it's really like a different thing than if ESPN or NBC Sports is carrying a stream or a broadcast within the US or a certain geography. So this is just a lot bigger than that. Marcus:. Yeah. Ross, any thoughts on Netflix moving more in to sports, what they've done, what you expect them to do?

This collaboration aims to offer a subscription-based "skinny" bundle of sports channels, including ESPN, Fox Sports, and Warner Bros. Discovery networks, alongside ESPN+. The service is set to launch in the fall of 2024, with an additional option to bundle Disney+, Hulu, and Max.

These deals, valued at $76 billion, will see the NBA Finals continue on ABC/ESPN for the next 11 seasons. TNT Sports, a current NBA broadcast partner owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, may still contest these agreements, according to CEO David Zaslav. The deals await approval from the NBA's board of governors, expected to be a formality during its meeting in Las Vegas next week.

WBD鈥檚 TNT Sports will produce the iconic 鈥淚nside the NBA鈥� show, featuring Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal, which will air on ESPN and ABC starting with the 2025-26 season. TNT Sports will expand its collegiate sports coverage by broadcasting Big 12 football and basketball games from 2025, complementing its existing College Football Playoff content.