• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

Disney Succession Talk Rises Amid Shareholder Battles, ESPN Changes

  • Public attention builds regarding who will lead the company after Iger.
  • Jimmy Pitaro’s profile continues to escalate as the sports media giant remains on the cusp of several major initiatives.
Jul 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The intrigue surrounding Disney leadership succession is heating up, perhaps with as much drama as the popular TV show of the same name.

Current CEO Bob Iger returned to the job with an initial expiration date at the end of 2024, only to sign a two-year contract extension that pushes that exit out to the end of ’26, when he’ll be 75. But, with nearly three years to go, interest and speculation are quickly rising about who will lead Disney in its next era.

Bloomberg reported last week that ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro is one of four leading internal candidates, joining Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, co-chairs of Disney Entertainment, and Josh D’Amaro, who heads up the company’s theme parks business. Pitaro’s listing there is hardly a surprise, as he and Iger have been close for years, and his name has already come up in succession talks for more than a year.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal profiled Pitaro on Sunday, detailing his efforts to remake the sports media giant in an era of unprecedented media turbulence while also describing him as “one of the contenders to succeed” Iger. 

A New Level of Urgency

The Disney succession issue, however, is now heating up for several reasons. Not only is ESPN on the cusp of several major initiatives, including a full, direct-to-consumer offering, bidding for another set of NBA rights, and potentially the sale of part of the network, but Disney is also facing increased shareholder pressure. 

Activist investor Nelson Peltz, in particular, has lobbied hard on several fronts, including for more clarity on the succession plan, rescaling the TV and movie business, and a bundling of the ESPN+ and Netflix streaming services. He is also pushing for board seats to further advance his case, engaging in a broad-based campaign, which includes various white papers and other advocacy efforts. Disney has opposed Peltz on virtually every front. 

Helping Disney’s case, however, are improved earnings and a 25% surge in shares so far this year, closing at $113.85 per share Monday. Perhaps seeing some of that growth, influential proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis recommended Disney shareholders withhold votes for all board candidates except Disney’s own selections.

Pitaro, among others, ruffled feathers with the recent announcement of a Fox-ESPN-Warner Bros. Discovery streaming alliance, but he has several major pluses in his favor, including having rebuilt a once-fractured ESPN relationship with the NFL and landing the network’s first Super Bowls.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Ratings Continue to Surge: CBS and NBC On a Record Pace

NBC is averaging 24.7 million viewers per game for Sunday Night Football.
FuboTV

Disney’s Fubo Deal Closes After DOJ Ends Antitrust Review

The deal creates the sixth-largest pay-TV company in the U.S.
Colin Cowherd

Colin Cowherd Reflects on Hall of Fame Career and Why His Show..

“Once you’re on television and people have a remote, you’ve got to speed it up.”
Terry Rozier

NBA Strongly Denies Quietly Suspending Terry Rozier in 2023

Brian Windhorst appeared to walk back his comments Friday morning.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
YouTube/ Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.

YouTube in Another Carriage Dispute, This Time With Disney

ESPN and ABC could be dropped from the No. 4 U.S. pay-TV distributor.
May 17, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) shakes hands with New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) after the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
October 23, 2025

Mets, Yankees, and the Nielsen Debate That Won’t Go Away

Weeks after the end of the MLB regular season, viewership issues remain.
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) keeps the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the second half at Paycom Center
October 23, 2025

NBA’s NBC Return Draws 5.9M Viewers, Best Opener Since 2010

Thunder vs. Rockets peaked at 7.1 million viewers.
Sponsored

Why Alexis Ohanian Is Betting Big on Women’s Sports

Alexis Ohanian reflects on his evolution from Reddit cofounder to one of today’s most dynamic sports investors.
Brian Windhorst
October 23, 2025

Brian Windhorst Details Emergency Landing on Omaha–L.A. Flight

The pilots and flight attendants had a communication issue.
October 22, 2025

YouTube Stars Help Bring Back Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’

The show will return in 2026 after an 11-year hiatus.
Candace Parker
October 22, 2025

Candace Parker Wants NFL-Style Coverage From NBA Media

Amazon will stream its first NBA doubleheader Friday.
Netflix
October 21, 2025

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.