In Sept. 2021, we debuted this newsletter with a deep dive about how ESPN would likely go direct-to-consumer within the next five years after talking to executives inside and outside the company, agents and broadcasters.
Since this topic was back in the news last week, we figured we’d update you with the most relevant, new information.
Let’s be clear: Before we give you the latest, let’s define what we are talking about. ESPN will eventually take the mothership network direct-to-consumer, but it will still remain on cable.
The product will be a standalone service, like ESPN+, but will include all of ESPN’s programming, like “Monday Night Football,” the college football national championship and the NBA. The linear network’s distribution will be expanded so a consumer can decide to have it through cable or without.
