• Loading stock data...
Monday, July 7, 2025

Netflix and ESPN+ in One Bundle? A Disney Activist Investor Wants It

  • Trian Fund Management proposes a landmark joint offering of the two streaming services.
  • Effort would tie into greater industry discussion about subscription fatigue among consumers.
Disney Ad Sales

An activist investor in ESPN parent Walt Disney Co. is reportedly pushing for an unprecedented building of the ESPN+ and Netflix streaming services—just as Netflix is accelerating its sports ambitions.

Nelson Peltz, whose Trian Fund Management controls nearly $3 billion in Disney stock, is set to publish a white paper detailing proposed reforms for the company, according to Bloomberg. For more than a year, Peltz has actively lobbied for Disney CEO Bob Iger and the company’s board of directors to take much more active steps to improve the value of the company’s stock, which is roughly half its value from March 2021. Trian is also seeking two seats on Disney’s board. 

The Trian white paper—reportedly due soon after Disney next reports quarterly earnings, on Feb. 7—notably advances a concept of streaming bundling more broadly gathering greater attention in media circles. Disney already sells its ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu services in a discounted bundle. But subscription fatigue and concern about customer churn increasingly are factors across the streaming landscape, leading to greater discussion across the industry about reformations in various forms of the traditional cable bundle in this space.

The proposed bundling of ESPN+ and Netflix would be designed as a means to promote profitability of Disney’s streaming operations, which lost $387 million in its most recent quarter. There is no indication, however, whether either company would be open to such an agreement. Disney has previously resisted Trian’s overtures. 

Netflix last week struck a major deal with WWE for live rights to Raw, and solidified its status as the world’s leading streaming service. Disney, meanwhile, continues to consider a potential partial equity sale of ESPN. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Liverpool to Pay Diogo Jota’s $20M Contract to His Widow

Jota had two years remaining on his contract.
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

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

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

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

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 3, 2025

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.

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.