Disney inks deal with MLB and LaLiga to ESPN+ as streaming revenue slows

Published

3 years ago

May 14, 2021

Disney is expanding its presence in the wide world of sports.

Disney has signed on a new seven-year agreement with Major League Baseball and an eight-year pact with Spain’s LaLiga soccer league.

This is latest in a series of sports-programming deals by the entertainment giant of the world.

It’s already the parent of ESPN and now set to broadcast 30 regular MLB games per season.

The soccer deal gives ESPN+ rights to the English and Spanish-language coverage of LaLiga.

It’s all part of ESPN sports-rights renewal binge that’s been happening this year.

Is this a bid to boost subscribers to Disney affiliated networks? The two sports deals represent a big financial commitment.

“ESPN’s longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball has been a driver of innovation for three decades,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.

“This agreement solidifies baseball’s ubiquitous presence across ESPN platforms, including ESPN+.”

According to Bloomberg, Disney will pay $175 million a year for soccer, according to a person familiar with the matter, which would be more than the Premier League’s deal with Comcast Corp.’s NBC.

“For the baseball deal, the sports news site the Athletic reported earlier this year that Disney could be paying as much as $150 million a year less for the package,” Bloomberg said.

It previously had an eight-year deal worth $5.8 billion for considerably more games.

This follows Walt Disney Co missing analysts’ estimates for quarterly revenue.

The slump is being blamed on a decrease in new subscribers to Dinsey Plus and operations at its theme parks remaining restricted.

Related Topics:Disney DISNEY+ESPN LaLiga media MLB sport streaming

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