• Loading stock data...
Friday, June 27, 2025

YouTube Scores Early Win Over Disney in Fight About Exec

A high-profile legal battle between major media titans has tilted heavily so far to YouTube, but the scrum involving top executive Justin Connolly is not yet over. 

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Round 1 in the Disney-YouTube legal battle involving top executive Justin Connolly clearly goes to the Google-owned streamer. 

About two weeks after Disney, the ESPN parent company, filed a lawsuit in California challenging Connolly’s intent to leave and join YouTube as global head of media and sports, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied Disney’s bid for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction blocking the executive’s move. Additionally, Judge James Chalfant wrote that he denied the order Disney sought in part because the “plaintiff has not demonstrated a probability of success on the merits.”

Chalfant also cited “lack of showing of emergency” and a “balance of harms” still tilting toward Connolly and not Disney. 

That means that, at least for now, Connolly can continue working at the streamer. There, he will look to expand a sports profile that already includes residential distribution rights for NFL Sunday Ticket and a recent deal to carry the league’s return to Brazil on Sept. 5 with the Chiefs and Chargers.

Disney said in a statement that it was “disappointed” in the initial ruling “but will continue to pursue our legal remedies.” The company had claimed Connolly signed a three-year employment agreement last November covering all of 2025–27, with a one-time termination right becoming effective March 1, 2027, and had raised claims of breach of contract, tortious interference of contractual relations, and unfair competition. 

YouTube TV has a soon-expiring carriage deal with Disney, but YouTube has said in legal filings that it has told Disney that Connolly will not be involved in the renegotiation efforts.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

As Wimbledon Approaches, Sinner and Alcaraz Solidify New Era

Sinner and Alcaraz have won the last six Grand Slams.

Masai Ujiri Out As Raptors’ Rogers Era Marked by Leadership Shift

Ujiri led the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship.

NBA Draft Ratings Fall 14.5% Despite Early Cooper Flagg Lift

3.77 million viewers watched across ESPN and ABC.

Featured Today

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena
June 22, 2025

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
opinion
June 25, 2025

From Woj Bombs to Shams Calm: ESPN Insider Avoids Draft Spoilers

Charania’s presence was fairly muted both on ESPN and social media.
Bristol, CT - October 3, 2023 - Studio X: Kevin Negandhi on the set of SportsCenter.
June 26, 2025

From NBA Draft to Rubik’s Championship: Negandhi’s Whirlwind Summer With ESPN

Negandhi recently anchored the NBA draft lottery and NBA draft.
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 25, 2025

Amazon NASCAR Ratings Down 17%, but Skew Younger

Prime Video averaged 2.16 million per race during its five-event stretch.
June 25, 2025

Broadcasting With Benefits: Networks Gaining League Equity Is Now the Norm

ESPN gained an equity stake in the PLL as part of a rights deal.
June 24, 2025

Kenny Beecham’s ESPN NBA Draft Plan: ‘Friendship Packaged As Sports’

The influencer will host a different sort of ESPN show alongside Brian Windhorst.
opinion
June 23, 2025

A 7-Step Playbook for Better NBA Finals TV Coverage

ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Finals was criticized on social media.