ESPN has been Disney’s financial engine for nearly 30 years, powering the company through recessions, box office wipeouts and the pandemic.
With its dual revenue stream — fees from cable subscribers and advertising — the sports juggernaut continues to earn billions of dollars for Disney.
In the first six months of the 2023 fiscal year, Disney’s cable networks division, which is anchored by ESPN and its spinoff channels, generated $14 billion in revenue and $3 billion in profit.
Disney is now exploring a once-unthinkable sale of a stake in ESPN.
Disney has held talks with the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball about taking a minority stake.
Persons:
Century Fox, ESPN’s, Robert A, ”
Organizations:
ESPN, Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Century, CNBC, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball