• Loading stock data...
Monday, November 4, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is open through Nov. 6 Learn More

ESPN Nearing New Partnership Deal with DraftKings

  • ESPN reportedly could sign an exclusive deal with DraftKings.
  • The network and sportsbook have been business partners for two years.
DraftKings
DraftKings

The family-oriented Walt Disney Co. has been gradually dipping its toes into sports betting with ESPN. Now it could be diving head-first into the lucrative industry, say sources.

ESPN and sports betting giant DraftKings are close to signing an exclusive deal that would greatly expand the Worldwide Leader’s sports gambling portfolio.

ESPN signed co-exclusive deals with DraftKings and Caesars two years ago. But Darren Rovell of The Action Network reported Thursday night that ESPN and the nation’s No. 2 sportsbook are “on the cusp” of forging an exclusive partnership.

“Specific terms of this deal are unknown, but the deal is a massive, exclusive partnership that will have shows and perhaps odds integrated into game broadcasts,” Rovell wrote.

Front Office Sports first reported in June 2021 that ESPN wanted to go “all-in” on sports betting, and that ESPN was exploring the launch of its own branded sports book.

The Wall Street Journal later reported ESPN wanted to license its famous four-letter brand to DraftKings or Caesars in a deal worth $3 billion over several years.

Disney owns about 5% of DraftKings after purchasing more than 18 million shares of the betting company in 2020, which saw its stock surge nearly 14% in after-hours trading on Thursday. That boosted the value of Disney’s stake in DraftKings to about $340 million.

DraftKings declined to address reports of the potential new deal with ESPN that Bloomberg also reported on Thursday.

“We have a great, long standing relationship with ESPN,” DraftKings said in a statement to FOS. “However, we speak to a variety of companies on a regular basis and don’t comment on the specifics of those conversations.”

Caesars did not return multiple messages left by FOS.

ESPN declined to comment. But Disney chief executive officer Bob Chapek has been telegraphing a belated, but ambitious, move into sports betting on quarterly earnings calls.

Chapek said in August that that company would “have something to announce in the future in terms of a partnership” that would allow for better integration with ESPN.

“We have been in conversations for quite a long time now with a number of different platforms to add some utility to sports betting and take away some friction,” Chapek said on the call. “We have found that basically our sports fans that are under 30 absolutely require this type of utility in the overall portfolio of what ESPN offers.”

There has been immense speculation from within the betting industry on just how ESPN would go about its new sports betting strategy, insiders told FOS. 

One option sources said included Disney exploring an acquisition of an existing sports betting company, although a source with knowledge of Disney’s dealings said there was no interest internally for such a deal. 

One thing ESPN would look to avoid was what Fox has gone through with its partnership with Flutter — the parent company of FanDuel — to create FoxBet. Their legal dispute is currently in arbitration, which has resulted in the stagnation of FoxBet.

“We don’t control it because we’re not allowed to,” Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch told investors in March. “It’s only rolled out in four states, which we’re disappointed in, and we’d like to see it rolled out in many more.”

The sports betting and online casino market in the U.S. generated gross revenue of $7.75 billion in 2021, according to The Action Network, and is on track to hit $24.3 billion by 2026.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Vanderbilt Commodores fans head to the south end zone as the goal post is taken down by exuberant fans after beating No. 1 Alabama 40-35 at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
opinion

Something New in College Football This Year: Parity

Upsets, surprises. CFB is more fun on the field than the NFL.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Mission Swing State: College Football’s Political Advertising Battle

Trump, Harris, and the PACs that support them are utilizing the sport.

Polymarket Is Pushing Into Sports Betting

Once the ballots are counted, Polymarket needs to take on sports.
Adam Schefter

Adam Schefter Uses Same Pirated NFL Clips As Everyone Else

ESPN’s NFL insider posted a video from an illegal stream Thursday night.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Surprising Start to MLB’s Offseason

0:00

Featured Today

The Untapped Revenue ‘Powder Keg’ of Women’s NFL Fandom

There’s a “boatload” of money at stake for brands and the league.
Oct 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) shakes hands while entering the locker room after a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
October 28, 2024

NIL Director Is the Trendy New Job in College Sports. But the Role Is Chaos

Athletic departments nationwide are hiring for what’s become their most important position.
FuboTV signage
opinion
October 26, 2024

Fubo’s Fight Against Streaming Giants Feels Futile

Fubo notched a legal win, but subs and stock still slump.
October 25, 2024

Inside The Wall at L.A. Clippers’ New $2B Home

FOS went inside the “contagious” energy at the L.A. Clippers’ Intuit Dome.

Parent of Action Network, Playmaker HQ Cuts More Than 100 Jobs

Better Collective laid off dozens of employees this week.
A DraftKings sign
October 7, 2024

A DraftKings Exec Left for Fanatics. Then the Bitter Legal Battle Began

Mike Hermalyn has been sidelined at Fanatics for nine months now.
Tony Hinchcliffe
October 28, 2024

DraftKings ‘Evaluating’ Relationship With Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe After Trump Rally

DraftKings says his jokes did not “reflect the views” of the company.
Sponsored

World Series Delivers High-Demand Marquee Matchup

The hype around the World Series matchup drove ticket prices to record levels—but the Dodgers’ dominance quickly quieted the fervor.
A Jacksonville Jaguars logo
October 1, 2024

Imprisoned Ex-Jaguars Employee Sues FanDuel for $250 Million

Amit Patel stole tens of millions of dollars from the NFL team.
September 16, 2024

MLB Players Union Sues DraftKings, FanDuel

The union says the sites don’t have the rights to use player images.
May 9, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Sports are shown on TVs behind the bar as guests enjoy the grand opening of DraftKings Sports & Social in the Short North. Though there are no on-site betting windows, eligible customers can place bets through the DraftKings app.
September 4, 2024

DraftKings Hit With $19K Fine For Unwinnable Connecticut Slot Game

The slot machine produced no wins in 20,000 turns.
August 29, 2024

ESPN Bet Remains Optimistic Heading Into Pivotal Year 2 

ESPN Bet is still lagging behind major competitors in the online sports betting market.