https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/espn-exe...ntary.html

"ESPN’s model is eroding. Past and present execs are split on how it can protect its dominance"

Quote:

• CNBC spoke with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and head of programming Roz Durant as part of a documentary on the Disney-owned network's future as cable TV declines.
• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke with CNBC about ESPN's challenges in his first public interview since his 2022 firing.
• ESPN has multiple streaming strategies to maintain its dominance and relevance as tens of millions of Americans cancel cable TV.
  

Quote:Disney's ESPN is at a crossroads.

For more than 40 years, the world's largest all-sports network has grown annual revenue by increasing cable subscription fees. ESPN first charged pay-TV distributors less than $1 per month per subscriber in the 1980s. In 2023, ESPN's monthly carriage fee was $9.42 per subscriber, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. [...]

ESPN reported domestic and international revenue grew just 1% to $4.4 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter. The network can no longer rely on price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines.

Documentary link:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/21/es...nance.html

I haven't watched the documentary part of this, but just the article is interesting in how it highlights some of what espn is doing to try to move forward. The new cross-companies bundle deal,m and trying their own streaming service.

I don't know if they'll be successful, but they apparently even have former CEO Chapek on the record saying espn doesn't need media partners.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/ex-disne...tners.html

(03-22-2024 02:55 PM)Skyhawk Wrote:  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/espn-exe...ntary.html

"ESPN’s model is eroding. Past and present execs are split on how it can protect its dominance"

Quote:

• CNBC spoke with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and head of programming Roz Durant as part of a documentary on the Disney-owned network's future as cable TV declines.
• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke with CNBC about ESPN's challenges in his first public interview since his 2022 firing.
• ESPN has multiple streaming strategies to maintain its dominance and relevance as tens of millions of Americans cancel cable TV.
  

Quote:Disney's ESPN is at a crossroads.

For more than 40 years, the world's largest all-sports network has grown annual revenue by increasing cable subscription fees. ESPN first charged pay-TV distributors less than $1 per month per subscriber in the 1980s. In 2023, ESPN's monthly carriage fee was $9.42 per subscriber, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. [...]

ESPN reported domestic and international revenue grew just 1% to $4.4 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter. The network can no longer rely on price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines.

Documentary link:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/21/es...nance.html

Good find. I expect there would be some culture shock at ESPN. Unlike other networks (CBS, NBC, ABC) that evolved through radio and then television broadcast, ESPN has always been about cable. That's the horse ESPN rides to victory.

(03-22-2024 02:55 PM)Skyhawk Wrote:  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/espn-exe...ntary.html

"ESPN’s model is eroding. Past and present execs are split on how it can protect its dominance"

Quote:

• CNBC spoke with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and head of programming Roz Durant as part of a documentary on the Disney-owned network's future as cable TV declines.
• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke with CNBC about ESPN's challenges in his first public interview since his 2022 firing.
• ESPN has multiple streaming strategies to maintain its dominance and relevance as tens of millions of Americans cancel cable TV.
  

Quote:Disney's ESPN is at a crossroads.

For more than 40 years, the world's largest all-sports network has grown annual revenue by increasing cable subscription fees. ESPN first charged pay-TV distributors less than $1 per month per subscriber in the 1980s. In 2023, ESPN's monthly carriage fee was $9.42 per subscriber, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. [...]

ESPN reported domestic and international revenue grew just 1% to $4.4 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter. The network can no longer rely on price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines.

Documentary link:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/21/es...nance.html

How in the world is their revenue still growing? To hear everyone tell it, they're in a financial free fall and revenues are down 987%.

(03-24-2024 11:56 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(03-22-2024 02:55 PM)Skyhawk Wrote:  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/espn-exe...ntary.html

"ESPN’s model is eroding. Past and present execs are split on how it can protect its dominance"

Quote:

• CNBC spoke with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and head of programming Roz Durant as part of a documentary on the Disney-owned network's future as cable TV declines.
• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke with CNBC about ESPN's challenges in his first public interview since his 2022 firing.
• ESPN has multiple streaming strategies to maintain its dominance and relevance as tens of millions of Americans cancel cable TV.
  

Quote:Disney's ESPN is at a crossroads.

For more than 40 years, the world's largest all-sports network has grown annual revenue by increasing cable subscription fees. ESPN first charged pay-TV distributors less than $1 per month per subscriber in the 1980s. In 2023, ESPN's monthly carriage fee was $9.42 per subscriber, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. [...]

ESPN reported domestic and international revenue grew just 1% to $4.4 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter. The network can no longer rely on price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines.

Documentary link:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/21/es...nance.html

How in the world is their revenue still growing? To hear everyone tell it, they're in a financial free fall and revenues are down 987%.

price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines

Did this report come out of the Charlotte Douglas Sky Miles VIP Lounge?

(03-24-2024 11:56 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(03-22-2024 02:55 PM)Skyhawk Wrote:  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/espn-exe...ntary.html

"ESPN’s model is eroding. Past and present execs are split on how it can protect its dominance"

Quote:

• CNBC spoke with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and head of programming Roz Durant as part of a documentary on the Disney-owned network's future as cable TV declines.
• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke with CNBC about ESPN's challenges in his first public interview since his 2022 firing.
• ESPN has multiple streaming strategies to maintain its dominance and relevance as tens of millions of Americans cancel cable TV.
  

Quote:Disney's ESPN is at a crossroads.

For more than 40 years, the world's largest all-sports network has grown annual revenue by increasing cable subscription fees. ESPN first charged pay-TV distributors less than $1 per month per subscriber in the 1980s. In 2023, ESPN's monthly carriage fee was $9.42 per subscriber, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. [...]

ESPN reported domestic and international revenue grew just 1% to $4.4 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter. The network can no longer rely on price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines.

Documentary link:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/21/es...nance.html

How in the world is their revenue still growing? To hear everyone tell it, they're in a financial free fall and revenues are down 987%.

Because sports is the most lucrative ad market in the US, and their growing ad revenue, their second most important revenue stream at 23% is offsetting the erosion of revenue in their largest revenue stream, linear carriage fees at 62%. ESPN+ brings in 9% and "other" brings in 6% (0:47 in the documentary).

(03-24-2024 01:05 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-24-2024 11:56 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(03-22-2024 02:55 PM)Skyhawk Wrote:  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/espn-exe...ntary.html

"ESPN’s model is eroding. Past and present execs are split on how it can protect its dominance"

Quote:

• CNBC spoke with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and head of programming Roz Durant as part of a documentary on the Disney-owned network's future as cable TV declines.
• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke with CNBC about ESPN's challenges in his first public interview since his 2022 firing.
• ESPN has multiple streaming strategies to maintain its dominance and relevance as tens of millions of Americans cancel cable TV.
  

Quote:Disney's ESPN is at a crossroads.

For more than 40 years, the world's largest all-sports network has grown annual revenue by increasing cable subscription fees. ESPN first charged pay-TV distributors less than $1 per month per subscriber in the 1980s. In 2023, ESPN's monthly carriage fee was $9.42 per subscriber, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. [...]

ESPN reported domestic and international revenue grew just 1% to $4.4 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter. The network can no longer rely on price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines.

Documentary link:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/21/es...nance.html

How in the world is their revenue still growing? To hear everyone tell it, they're in a financial free fall and revenues are down 987%.

Because sports is the most lucrative ad market in the US, and their growing ad revenue, their second most important revenue stream at 23% is offsetting the erosion of revenue in their largest revenue stream, linear carriage fees at 62%. ESPN+ brings in 9% and "other" brings in 6% (0:47 in the documentary).

ESPN will be fine!!!

(03-24-2024 03:32 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  

(03-24-2024 01:05 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-24-2024 11:56 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(03-22-2024 02:55 PM)Skyhawk Wrote:  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/espn-exe...ntary.html

"ESPN’s model is eroding. Past and present execs are split on how it can protect its dominance"

Quote:

• CNBC spoke with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and head of programming Roz Durant as part of a documentary on the Disney-owned network's future as cable TV declines.
• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke with CNBC about ESPN's challenges in his first public interview since his 2022 firing.
• ESPN has multiple streaming strategies to maintain its dominance and relevance as tens of millions of Americans cancel cable TV.
  

Quote:Disney's ESPN is at a crossroads.

For more than 40 years, the world's largest all-sports network has grown annual revenue by increasing cable subscription fees. ESPN first charged pay-TV distributors less than $1 per month per subscriber in the 1980s. In 2023, ESPN's monthly carriage fee was $9.42 per subscriber, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. [...]

ESPN reported domestic and international revenue grew just 1% to $4.4 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter. The network can no longer rely on price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines.

Documentary link:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/21/es...nance.html

How in the world is their revenue still growing? To hear everyone tell it, they're in a financial free fall and revenues are down 987%.

Because sports is the most lucrative ad market in the US, and their growing ad revenue, their second most important revenue stream at 23% is offsetting the erosion of revenue in their largest revenue stream, linear carriage fees at 62%. ESPN+ brings in 9% and "other" brings in 6% (0:47 in the documentary).

ESPN will be fine!!!

Quite possibly, but it's nowhere near as sure a thing as when all they had to do was to increase their carriage fee by 20%, since it remains true that 3/5ths of their revenue is on a declining track, so they do have to find ways to replace that revenue.

(03-24-2024 03:32 PM)GTFletch Wrote:  

(03-24-2024 01:05 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-24-2024 11:56 AM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(03-22-2024 02:55 PM)Skyhawk Wrote:  https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/espn-exe...ntary.html

"ESPN’s model is eroding. Past and present execs are split on how it can protect its dominance"

Quote:

• CNBC spoke with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and head of programming Roz Durant as part of a documentary on the Disney-owned network's future as cable TV declines.
• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke with CNBC about ESPN's challenges in his first public interview since his 2022 firing.
• ESPN has multiple streaming strategies to maintain its dominance and relevance as tens of millions of Americans cancel cable TV.
  

Quote:Disney's ESPN is at a crossroads.

For more than 40 years, the world's largest all-sports network has grown annual revenue by increasing cable subscription fees. ESPN first charged pay-TV distributors less than $1 per month per subscriber in the 1980s. In 2023, ESPN's monthly carriage fee was $9.42 per subscriber, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. [...]

ESPN reported domestic and international revenue grew just 1% to $4.4 billion in its most recent fiscal quarter. The network can no longer rely on price increases to make up the difference as the number of cable customers declines.

Documentary link:

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/21/es...nance.html

How in the world is their revenue still growing? To hear everyone tell it, they're in a financial free fall and revenues are down 987%.

Because sports is the most lucrative ad market in the US, and their growing ad revenue, their second most important revenue stream at 23% is offsetting the erosion of revenue in their largest revenue stream, linear carriage fees at 62%. ESPN+ brings in 9% and "other" brings in 6% (0:47 in the documentary).

ESPN will be fine!!!

There's nothing quite like having a partner of your #1 competitor predicting your demise when they are a distant second with similar issues. Priceless!

ESPN is dying. Even people are cutting ESPN+.

(03-24-2024 06:25 PM)JRsec Wrote:  ... There's nothing quite like having a partner of your #1 competitor predicting your demise when they are a distant second with similar issues. Priceless!

And, indeed, this program is not predicting ESPN's demise.