• Loading stock data...
Sunday, July 6, 2025

Live Sports A Driving Force for Disney

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Disney released its finalized upfront negotiations, showcasing its dedication to streaming live sports and a significant boost in advertising revenue. 

The Mouse — which owns streaming services Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu — saw more than 40% of upfront ad commitments go to streaming.

Hulu’s ad revenue is expected to reach $3 billion this year, on par with Disney’s linear networks. The ESPN+ subscriber base grew 75% year-over-year to 13.8 million in the first quarter.

“We led with streaming this year,” said Rita Ferro, president of Disney advertising sales. “You always hear how broadcast leads in the upfront, and we saw an opportunity this year to change that, and we did well.”

In May, Ferro said an upfront priority of Disney’s was “leaning into the unrivaled breadth and depth of our sports portfolio.” In the last year, the Mouse has done just that.

  • Announced a seven-year deal with the NHL for linear and streaming platforms, reportedly worth $400 million per season.
  • Inked an 11-year deal with the NFL that includes two Super Bowls, more regular-season games and a playoff game for $2.7 billion per year.
  • Began a seven-year deal with MLB for roughly $550 million per year.
  • ESPN+ bought rights to the English- and Spanish-language coverage of LaLiga at $175 million per year.

We’re committed to sports because we value live sports, which drives viewers and interest like nothing else,” CEO Bob Chapek said at a conference.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) heads to the dugout prior to the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Dodger Stadium.

MLB Changes Are ‘Showing Great Results’: Former CFO

Big stars playing in major markets “make a real difference.”

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.

Featured Today

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
June 29, 2025

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.