Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Disney Beats Expectations, Plans ‘NFL Sunday Ticket’ Bid

  • Disney brought in $21.8 billion in the fiscal quarter ending Jan. 1.
  • It plans to bid for rights to “NFL Sunday Ticket.”
ESPN-Disney
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Disney saw 34% year-over-year revenue growth in the fiscal quarter ending Jan. 1, as the company looks to double down on football. 

The Mouse banked $21.8 billion in its fiscal first quarter of 2022, beating expectations on earnings and subscriber growth.

  • ESPN+ surged to 21.3 million subscribers, up 24.6% quarter-over-quarter and 76% year-over-year.
  • Disney+ subscribers reached 129.8 million, up 11.7 million from the previous quarter and 37% year-over-year.

Chairman and CEO Bob Chapek confirmed that Disney plans to bid on “NFL Sunday Ticket,” which could fetch $2.5 billion per season. 

The company also re-upped with two of its favorite broadcasters by extending its deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, adding a fourth year to its “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” show, better known as the ManningCast.

The Price of Rights

Last month, Disney struck a deal to exclusively broadcast English Premier League games in 10 South American countries.

Disney is also believed to want a new deal for Indian Premier League rights, expected to top $5 billion over five years.

The company’s broadcast rights include the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, La Liga, and UFC.

While revenue from its linear media networks were flat at $7.7 billion, Disney saw impressive growth in streaming, as its direct-to-consumer channels grew 34% to $4.7 billion. Streaming remains a money loser, however, with a $593 million operating loss.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Panthers Laying Groundwork for On- and Off-Field Transformation

Carolina’s Bank of America Stadium will undergo a $1.3 billion renovation.
Sep 14, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Broadcaster Pat McAfee prior to a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.

ESPN Stands by McAfee’s ‘Very Real and Valid’ Concerns

An ESPN spokeswoman says the network takes all threats very seriously.

Jerry Jones Says Cowboys Hiring Troy Aikman ‘Very Possible’

Jones and Aikman spoke on the field Monday night.

WNBA Finals Game 6 Will Test Daytime Sports Viewership

The Valkyries would clinch the WNBA Finals with a win Thursday.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/27/26 – NBA Enters Prediction Markets, WNBA Finals Midday Move, LIV Hangs by a Thread

0:00

Featured Today

Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Worldwidewob
Exclusive

Why World Wide Wob Walked Away From NBA Twitter

He’s “still covering LA police chases daily on Twitch.”
October 24, 2026

Troy Aikman Says He’d Consider Role With Cowboys

Aikman welcomes conversations with Jerry Jones as his ESPN contract nears expiration.
Oct 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) during the second quarter at Ford Field.
October 26, 2026

Tom Brady Candidly Questioned Officiating in Packers-Lions

Fox’s officiating expert backed him up.
Sponsored

How the New York Yankees Stay Game-Ready with Sage Intacct

See how Sage Intacct helps the Yankees streamline finances and plan for the future.
October 24, 2026

Luke Kuechly Calls Netflix NFL Role a Work ‘In Progress’

Kuechly is also calling some regional NFL action for CBS.
Aug 30, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Television personality Britt McHenry in the stands during a second round match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Tennys Sandgren of the United States on day four of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
October 23, 2026

Britt McHenry Out at Trump Admin After Viral Drink-Throwing Incident

McHenry joined the State Department as a press advisor last month.
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; ESPN Monday Night Football logo on an end zone camera before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Houston Texans in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
October 23, 2026

Ranking Troy Aikman’s Likeliest ESPN Replacements

ESPN has yet to formally offer Aikman a new contract.
Zach Lowe Sean Fennessey The Ringer
October 22, 2026

Substack: No Deal With The Ringer, Even as Talent Flocks to Platform

Zach Lowe is the latest Ringer talent to launch a Substack newsletter.