Six months into ESPN’s direct-to-consumer journey, the focus is firmly on meeting fans where they are — and redefining how they experience sports along the way.

In this Q&A, John Lasker, SVP, ESPN Direct-to-Consumer, shares how delivering broader access, launching an enhanced ESPN App, and unifying ESPN’s DTC strategy are setting the foundation for long-term growth, deeper engagement, and greater value across The Walt Disney Company’s streaming ecosystem.

Six months in, what are the milestones you’re most proud of, and why do those matter for ESPN’s long-term growth?

The biggest milestone is that we delivered on something fans have been asking for — access to ESPN in more ways than ever before — while launching an enhanced app experience that truly elevates how fans engage with sports. The launch itself went incredibly smoothly thanks to the work of thousands of people across ESPN and The Walt Disney Company, and we’ve seen strong validation in how fans are showing up and engaging.

Just as important, we’ve proven that one unified direct-to-consumer strategy with two plan options (Unlimited and Select) gives fans optionality without losing the core ESPN experience. That foundation is critical for our long-term growth because it allows us to keep evolving the product while staying focused on serving sports fans anytime, anywhere.

How are you defining “success” at this stage: reach, engagement, retention, customer satisfaction, or something else — and which leading indicators are you watching most closely right now?

Success isn’t one single metric — it’s a combination of many including reach, engagement, and how often fans come back to the product. We’re looking closely at how fans are activating their access, how frequently they’re using the app across devices, and how they move from one sport or season to the next.

What’s encouraging is that we’re seeing strong engagement across live events, features, and adoption of the Bundle with the ESPN Unlimited Bundle plan, Disney+ and Hulu. The strategy is resonating, and the goal right now is to continue building habits so that fans see ESPN as a year-round destination, not just something tied to one specific season or event.

The enhanced ESPN App introduced more personalization and new viewing experiences. Which features have fans responded to most strongly so far, and what feedback has surprised you?

Live events are still at the heart of everything, but the way fans experience those events has really evolved. Multiview has been incredibly popular, and fans are leaning into features like stats, key plays, fantasy and betting integrations, and personalized content experiences like SC For You and Verts that make using the app more interactive.

It’s exciting to see fans adopt the broader feature set as part of their routine. It’s not just one feature; it’s the ecosystem working together. That’s also opened the door for us to keep innovating around the game itself — things like deeper personalization and new experiences that only make sense inside the ESPN App environment.

What unique role does ESPN play alongside Disney+ and Hulu in driving value for the whole company?

Sports bring a different kind of energy and urgency — they’re live, they’re communal, and they drive consistent engagement throughout the year. With ESPN alongside Disney+ and Hulu, you’re creating a bundle that delivers sports, entertainment, and family programming in one place, which is incredibly compelling for fans and for the company. In fact, roughly 80% of subscribers to the ESPN Unlimited plan access the service through a bundle, which reinforces how important that ecosystem approach has been from the start.

We’ve seen that combination resonate because it gives consumers flexibility and expanded value while strengthening the overall Disney ecosystem. ESPN helps bring fans in more frequently, and together the three services create a more complete offering than any single product could deliver on its own.

Looking ahead, what most excites you for the next chapter for ESPN DTC?

What excites me most is how much runway we still have. We’re continuing to bring new programming, new features, and new distribution opportunities into the product — from innovations in the app experience to upcoming additions like NFL Network and deeper personalization.

We’re also focused on making sure more fans can access ESPN the way they want, whether that’s through direct subscriptions, bundles, or authentication with partners. Every step forward gives us another opportunity to learn, evolve, and continue building something that serves sports fans even better.

At the one-year mark, what do you hope we will be talking about in relation to ESPN DTC?

I hope we’re talking about how the product has continued to mature with more fans activated in the ESPN app, that personalization feels even more seamless, and that the value of the ESPN Unlimited plan is clearer than ever.

We’ll also continue to listen to fan feedback and expand what they can do inside the app — whether that’s new features, new content opportunities, or deeper integrations that make ESPN the best place to watch and engage with sports.

A version of this article was originally posted on ESPN’s Press Room.

ESPN is set to host its 5th annual ESPN Edge Innovation Conference on Thursday, Nov. 13. The one-night event features some of the brightest minds across sports, business and technology, coming together to discuss how they’re pushing the boundaries of advanced technology and creative sports storytelling.

The conference has evolved from virtual to in-person, and now it’s officially taking place inside The Walt Disney Company’s headquarters in New York City at 7 Hudson Square.

Leaders from ESPN Edge Innovation Partners – including Accenture, Microsoft, Meta, WSC Sports and a soon-to-be-announced fifth partner – along with other industry experts, will speak at the conference.

Kevin Lopes, VP of Business Development & Innovation, talked about how this conference has scaled so quickly in only four years and what to expect at this year’s event.

Can you talk about how this has evolved from year 1 to now?

What started as a virtual experiment on Zoom has now grown into an in-person event, complete with live demos, networking opportunities and panels featuring industry leaders sharing what’s next in sports and technology.

What should fans watching expect during this year’s conference?

We’re proud that our event has become a place to see what’s next – from exciting demos to first looks at the innovative work happening across ESPN, The Walt Disney Company and our amazing innovation partners.

Is there anything you can share from this year’s agenda?

I’m excited about our entire agenda this year, but I have to say, a couple segments really stick out. One is ESPN’s XR (extended reality) panel featuring visionaries from Lucasfilm, Meta, Disney and ESPN. I’m also incredibly proud of the work our creative studio and production teams have done to turn animated telecasts into must-see family entertainment using Disney’s iconic IP – it’s amazing to see.

Anything else to share?
ESPN has always championed innovation; it’s part of our storied legacy as a company. ESPN Edge has the privilege of contributing to that legacy. We’re constantly thinking 5-10+ years down the road on how we can continue delivering best-in-class experiences for fans, and the ESPN Edge Innovation Conference offers a great look at how we’re doing that alongside our partners.

View the full agenda and watch the live stream for free at espnedge.com/conference.

A version of this article was originally posted on ESPN’s Press Room.

Sports fans know the struggle: too many games, not enough screens. This is especially true ahead of a huge Thanksgiving weekend full of live sports. The solution: the Multiview feature on the ESPN App, which lets you watch up to four live events simultaneously.

But Multiview isn’t just for the big screen anymore. Starting today, Multiview is rolling out to mobile and tablet devices, so you can take this simultaneous sports-watching experience wherever you go.

Since its launch, Multiview has quickly become a fan favorite feature on the ESPN App. More than 2 million ESPN App users have experienced the feature, enjoying more than 3,000 uniquely curated Multiview combinations in just the first two months alone! Here’s how to get in on the action:

What is Multiview?

Multiview on the ESPN App allows you to watch up to four games at once on your screen. Combinations are curated by ESPN and available to both ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited subscribers.

Where can I use it?

In addition to the current launch on mobile and tablet devices, Multiview is already available on most major connected TVs, including Android TV, Samsung, and Roku. See this list for supported devices. Getting started is easy:

• Open the ESPN app or visit ESPN.com.
• Head to the “Watch” section and look for the Top Live rows.
• Spot the quad-screen/Multiview tile, tap or click, and you’re in.

What can I watch this weekend with Multiview?

ESPN has an incredible lineup of sports over Thanksgiving weekend, and Multiview is there to serve fans so that they don’t miss a single moment. Mark your calendars!

• Thursday, November 27: Men’s college basketball, including the Marriott Bonvoy Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, as a part of Feast Week
• Friday, November 28: College football featuring No. 13 Utah vs Kansas and No. 7 Ole Miss vs Mississippi State as they battle to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff
• Saturday, November 29: Two of the biggest sporting events of the day at once with WWE’s Survivor Series: WarGames and the Iron Bowl featuring Alabama vs Auburn
• Sunday, November 30: All of the F1 action, all in one screen as the season nears its end with the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix
• Monday, December 1: Monday Night Football featuring the Giants vs Patriots and the ManningCast with Peyton and Eli

Download the ESPN App today and never miss a moment of the action with Multiview, now coming to mobile and tablet devices.

Following Sunday’s Super Bowl LX, ESPN and Disney unveiled “We’re Going,” a high-energy, fast-paced, cameo-filled marketing campaign for ESPN’s inaugural Super Bowl, set for February 2027. The spot, which debuted on Good Morning America Monday, reimagines the “I’m Going to Disney World” Super Bowl tradition through a modern lens, bringing together more than 60 iconic characters from across the worlds of Disney, all in their familiar worlds and settings, united by a single destination: Super Bowl LXI.

Buzz Lightyear and Woody kick off the cascade of Disney appearances, setting the tone for a rapid-fire series of cameos that includes Darth Vader; Iron Man; Frozen’s Anna, Elsa, Sven, Olaf and Kristoff; Moana; Deadpool & Wolverine; Grogu; Stitch; The Muppets; Zootopia’s Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde; Bart Simpson; and R2 D2 and C-3PO, among many others. Maui from Moana appears in the final scene, transforming into an eagle as he joins Lightning McQueen and a host of Disney characters together on the road to Los Angeles.

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman — who will call their seventh Super Bowl together in 2027 — are featured in their broadcast booth. ESPN’s Jason Kelce, and Peyton and Eli Manning also all make appearances.

The creative concept is more than 40 years in the making, drawing inspiration from the legendary “I’m going to Disney World” phrase famously declared by Super Bowl champions moments after winning America’s biggest game. The tradition began in 1987 when former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms first delivered the now iconic line after being named Super Bowl XXI Most Valuable Player. Over the ensuing decades, the phrase became a defining element of Super Bowl celebrations — and now serves as the creative foundation for ESPN’s first Super Bowl marketing campaign.

“Few phrases are as instantly recognizable in sports as ‘I’m going to Disney World,’” said Asad Ayaz, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “This campaign brings together the scale of ESPN, the global power of Disney’s brands and characters, and the excitement of the Super Bowl to create a shared moment that signals just how big this milestone is for our company and fans.”

Added Tina Thornton, Executive Vice President, Creative Studio and Marketing at ESPN: “‘We’re Going’ is just the beginning of a year-long adventure to our first Super Bowl. It sets the tone for how we’re approaching Super Bowl LXI — by bringing together the storytelling power of Disney with the scale, voice, and passion of ESPN. Together, it allows us to build momentum, create emotional connection, and bring fans with us every step of the way.”

In addition to the creative campaign, ESPN is currently airing a 24-hour, multi-platform event dubbed “The Handoff,” which began at SoFi Stadium — host of Super Bowl LXI — and continues today at Disneyland Park.

Together, “We’re Going” and “The Handoff” represent the opening chapter of ESPN’s broader Super Bowl initiative, with additional details to be announced in the coming days.

Stuart Scott was more than a familiar anchor on ESPN, he was a trailblazer whose voice and presence transformed the landscape of sports media.

The latest ESPN 30 for 30 documentary — Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott, which premieres on ESPN, the ESPN app and Disney+ on Wednesday at 9pm ET — delves into the vibrant life of Scott, tracing his journey from groundbreaking broadcaster to cultural icon, and highlighting the authenticity that anchored every aspect of his career.

Through unprecedented access to personal archives and heartfelt reflections from colleagues, the film offers an intimate portrait of a man who inspired millions by staying true to himself, even in the face of profound personal challenges.

We spoke with Andre Gaines, the producer and director of the film, to learn more.

What inspired you to choose Stuart Scott’s life as the subject for a 30 for 30 film?

Stuart Scott was more than a sports anchor — he was a cultural force. His voice reshaped the way sports was talked about and who felt seen in that conversation. When I learned how much of his own life Stuart documented — his training sessions, his family moments, even pieces of his battle with cancer — I realized there was a story here that only he could tell. The inspiration came from wanting to honor that legacy while giving audiences a deeper, more intimate look at the man behind the mic. Stuart changed the game, and I felt a responsibility to show how and why, especially at a moment when authenticity in storytelling matters more than ever.

Stuart Scott’s story spans sports, culture, and personal resilience. How did you decide which thread would anchor the film?

The connective tissue became authenticity — Stuart’s unwavering commitment to being himself in every room he entered. Whether he was breaking highlights with his signature flair, navigating the complexities of race and representation in media, or fighting cancer with astonishing courage, that authenticity grounded every chapter of his life. We used that as the anchor, allowing the film to move fluidly between arenas of sports, culture, and personal struggle. It created a narrative framework that felt true to Stuart: fearless, dynamic, and unapologetically real.

This documentary focuses on one of ESPN’s most beloved anchors. How did ESPN help you tell his story?

ESPN opened its archives and its heart. They gave us unprecedented access to decades of footage, editorial notes, and behind-the-scenes materials that showed Stuart not just as a broadcaster, but as a colleague, a mentor, and a friend. The current and former ESPN talent we interviewed spoke about him with such depth and affection that it shaped the emotional tone of the film. Their support allowed us to paint a portrait that was both expansive and intimate, reflecting the full spectrum of Stuart’s impact within the company and beyond.

The documentary features never-before-seen footage from Stuart’s personal collection. What was the most challenging part of integrating those intimate moments into a comprehensive film about his life, which was largely lived in public view?

The challenge was respecting the intimacy without losing the scope. His personal footage is raw, emotional, and sometimes vulnerable in ways that contrast sharply with the confident, charismatic figure viewers grew up watching on television. We had to find the balance between those worlds — letting audiences into his private life while honoring the privacy he maintained. Ultimately, the key was treating that material as Stuart intended: as part of his ongoing effort to tell his story honestly. Integrating those moments required sensitivity, restraint, and a deep understanding of the legacy he hoped to leave behind.

Stuart faced cancer with remarkable courage while continuing to work. How did you weave Stuart’s battle into the fabric of the film?

We treated his cancer as a thread interwoven throughout the third act of the film — it was more than just a chapter. He never wanted his illness to define him, and yet it shaped his perspective, his work, and his relationships. By allowing his own recordings, journal entries, and on-air moments to guide the structure, we were able to show a man who chose purpose over fear. We wanted viewers to understand the emotional complexity of that fight, while also recognizing that his courage was not performative — it was who he was at the deepest level.

If a young broadcaster asked what they should learn from Stuart’s career, what would you tell them, and how does the film reinforce that message?

I’d tell them: Be yourself, relentlessly. Stuart broke barriers because he refused to dilute who he was. He brought his full identity — his language, his culture, his experiences — to the screen, and in doing so made millions of people feel valued. The film reinforces that message by showing the courage behind those choices, and by revealing the intentionality with which Stuart shaped his voice. For any young broadcaster, his story is a reminder that authenticity isn’t just a style — it’s a strategy for longevity, impact, and connection.

ESPN and Major League Baseball today announced a new fan-focused, multi-faceted agreement, featuring a broad range of national rights, plus local out-of-market rights and in-market rights. As part of the agreement, ESPN becomes the exclusive rights holder of MLB.TV, making thousands of games available each season on the ESPN App, in addition to MLB platforms in 2026. The announcement of the new deal, effective 2026 through 2028, was made by Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN, and Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr.

MLB.TV on ESPN App

MLB.TV and its thousands of out-of-market games each year will stream live and on-demand on the ESPN App. The games will also be available on MLB platforms in 2026. New MLB.TV subscribers will be able to purchase and stream the service through the enhanced ESPN App and enjoy its suite of interactive features and functionalities — alongside more than 50,000 other sports events and content from ESPN’s family of networks. Both new and existing MLB.TV subscribers will have the ability to access the service on the ESPN App and through MLB platforms.

Additionally, ESPN has acquired exclusive, local in-market streaming rights for MLB Clubs. The MLB Clubs currently include the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. In 2026, the games will be available to purchase and stream on MLB platforms.

ESPN will also deliver more than 150 out-of-market regular season games every season across a special ‘game of the day’ offering for subscribers to the ESPN Unlimited plan.

Exclusive National Linear Game Package

ESPN will produce a new, exclusive package of national regular-season MLB games each year for its linear networks and direct-to-consumer offering. The 30-game schedule will be comprised primarily of weeknight games, with a focus on the core summer months. As part of this national package, ESPN will maintain exclusive rights to the MLB Little League Classic presented by New York Life as part of its sweeping Little League World Series coverage. ESPN has also added rights to Memorial Day games and second-half opener games.

Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN: “This fan-friendly agreement allows us to showcase the great sport of baseball on both a local and national level, while prioritizing our streaming future. MLB.TV is a coveted, must-have companion for passionate MLB fans all over the country, and it will be strongly complemented by our national game package and in-market team rights – all within the ESPN App.”

Robert D. Manfred, Jr., Baseball Commissioner: “This new agreement with ESPN marks a significant evolution in our more than 30-year relationship. Bringing MLB.TV to ESPN’s new app while maintaining a presence on linear television reflects a balanced approach to the shifts taking place in the way that fans watch baseball and gives MLB a meaningful presence on an important destination for fans of all sports.”

Additional rights:

• Fans with an MLB.TV subscription also have access to MLB Network and its 24/7 programming;
• ESPN’s MLB studio rights for Baseball Tonight will continue;
• Existing audio package continues as ESPN Radio remains the national audio home of the World Series, the full MLB Postseason, the MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, weekly Saturday games and Sunday Night Baseball;
• ESPN retains Spanish-language rights for its new, linear games package;
• Rights for SportsCenter and additional ESPN studio show presence at signature MLB events, including the World Series;
• Throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, the Netherlands, and China (via its hotel channels), ESPN continues to serve fans with a robust game package featuring daily regular season games including Sunday Night Baseball, MLB All-Star Game, and culminating with the MLB Postseason and World Series.

ESPN and Major League Baseball have one of sports media’s most prolific and longest standing partnerships, dating back to the 1990 season. The partnership has served as a hub of broadcast innovation throughout the years. For more information on ESPN and MLB’s history of innovation, visit ESPNFrontRow.com.

ESPN and DraftKings Inc. today announced an agreement, naming DraftKings the exclusive Official Sportsbook and Odds Provider of ESPN, effective December 1, 2025. This agreement, which unites two of the most iconic brands in sports, will deliver fans premium sports betting content and experiences.

Beginning in December 2025, DraftKings entertainment products will be exclusively integrated across ESPN’s ecosystem with a full rollout expected in 2026. Fans will be able to enjoy betting features and access to offerings including DraftKings’ sportsbook, daily fantasy, and DraftKings Pick6 at launch.

Together, DraftKings and ESPN will collaborate to advance their shared commitment to responsible gaming, by dedicating prominent assets to educate, raise customer awareness and promote responsible play through campaigns and integrations.

“Our betting approach has focused on offering an integrated experience within our products,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN. “Working with DraftKings, a leader in the space, will allow us to build upon that foundation, continue to super-serve passionate sports fans and grow our ESPN direct-to-consumer business. We are excited about this new collaboration with DraftKings.”

DraftKings will also play a major role across ESPN’s digital platforms. DraftKings will power the betting tab within the ESPN app and their customers will receive special promotions for ESPN Unlimited, ESPN’s newly launched direct-to-consumer product.

“ESPN’s unmatched visibility across the world of sports make this collaboration a natural fit,” said Jason Robins, CEO and Co-Founder of DraftKings. “As an innovative leader in digital sports entertainment, DraftKings is uniquely positioned to integrate our technology and products with ESPN’s iconic brand and storytelling power. Together, we’re delivering a seamless, engaging, and responsible experience that elevates how fans connect with live sports.”

DraftKings operates in 28 states and in Washington D.C. and Ontario, Canada, and has more than 10 million customers across its products, positioning this deal to lead in innovation, engagement and fan access. This expands ESPN’s ability to be the go-to platform for sports fans with access to DraftKings’ products.

ESPN BET will shift to a sports betting content brand with DraftKings Sportsbook integrations, anchored by ESPN’s betting show, ESPN BET Live, which currently airs weekdays at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and dedicated social and digital channels.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this press release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” ”would,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside DraftKings’ and/or ESPN’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see DraftKings’ or The Walt Disney Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as appropriate. None of DraftKings, ESPN, or The Walt Disney Company undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

ESPN, Disney, Pixar and the National Football League will present Monsters Funday Football on Monday, Dec. 8, a real-time, animated Monday Night Football game, featuring the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles at the Los Angeles Chargers, inside the iconic Monsters, Inc. building. Powered by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats and Sony’s Beyond Sports visualization technology and Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations, this season’s immersive Funday Football experience will transport fans to Monstropolis for ESPN’s Week 14 MNF matchup.

Monsters Funday Football marks the third consecutive season ESPN, Disney+ and the NFL have presented a Funday Football telecast with the alternate presentation, for the first time, available on ESPN2, Disney Channel, and Disney XD, and the new ESPN App (via ESPN DTC or pay TV authentication), while continuing to stream on Disney+ and, on mobile, NFL+. Video on Demand will be available on Disney+ shortly after the live broadcast.

The traditional Monday Night Football telecast, with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge will be available on ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes and streaming live on the ESPN App. Both presentations begin at 8 p.m. ET.

Again this season, Funday Football will be available internationally, live on ESPN platforms and/or Disney+, in Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia & New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Canada (TSN+). Video on Demand will be available on Disney+ shortly after the live broadcast in these markets — and in other regions such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and more — for a total of more than 155 markets.

Cutting-Edge Technology: Each Snap, Run & Touchdown Comes to Life in World of Monsters, Inc.

Every Eagles and Chargers player will appear as a motion-enabled, animated version of themselves brought to life through NFL Next Gen Stats, Sony’s Beyond Sports, and Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking, which have been utilized throughout each iteration of Funday Football. Using the player tracking data, Beyond Sports’ virtual recreation engine animates gameplay in real time within Monstropolis that mirrors the live action from SoFi Stadium.

Monsters Funday Football follows the success of The Simpsons Funday Football (December 2024) and Toy Story Funday Football (October 2023).

“Each iteration of Funday Football has pushed the boundary of what’s possible in sports technology. By blending real-time NFL data and tracking with cutting-edge animation, we’re transforming the way fans experience an NFL game,” said Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN VP, Graphics Innovation. “Our continued innovation with partners like the NFL, Beyond Sports and Disney+ showcases how technology can turn a live game into a fully immersive world, giving fans an additional way to consume sports.”

Monstropolis Meets Monday Night Football: Beloved Characters Headline Presentation with Many Monsters, Inc. Elements Throughout

Adored monsters Mike Wazowski and James P. “Sulley” Sullivan will make their football debut, joining Jalen Hurts and the Eagles and Justin Herbert and the Chargers, respectively. The action will unfold on the Cheer Floor — a reimagined version of the film’s famed Scare Floor — and will be adorned with a full-length football field filled with thousands of cheering monsters. Continuing a hallmark of every Funday Football presentation, this edition’s setting builds on previous imaginative worlds — following Andy’s bedroom in Toy Story Funday Football and Atom’s Stadium in Springfield from The Simpsons Funday Football.

While Mike and Sulley will mostly leave the game execution to the professionals, they will sub in for key offensive and defensive moments, similarly to how Bart and Homer only joined the action for significant plays in their game — which included Homer throwing a touchdown pass for the Cowboys. During the game Mike & the Eagles and Sulley and the Chargers will compete for Cheer Canisters — a rebrand of the classic Scream Canisters — storing monster cheers instead of screams. The night will end with not only a game winner but also a Cheer Champion.

Additional characters, film references and aesthetics will bring a regular day at Monsters, Inc. into an exciting Monday Night Football atmosphere:

• Fan-Favorite Monsters, Inc. Characters: Accompanying Mike and Sulley will be Roz, the slug-like monster, who will serve as the game’s sideline reporter because she “is watching, always watching!” The Child Detection Agency (CDA) will also be in attendance to monitor the crowd and the game — helping to clean-up the penalty and challenge flags that are thrown. Many additional fan-favorite characters will also make appearances.
• Familiar Sights from Monstropolis: In addition to the converted Scare Floor and Scream Canisters, the Scarer’s Leaderboard will become the Cheer Competition Leaderboard, while floating Monsters, Inc. bedroom doors hover above the field, showing fans viewing the game from their bedrooms, all over the world.
• Famous Voices of Monsters, Inc.: Renowned Hollywood actors, Billy Crystal (Mike), John Goodman (Sulley) and Bob Peterson (Roz) return to voice their original characters through prerecorded lines.
• Halftime Show Fit for Monsters: While Mike and Sulley duke it out for cheers throughout the entire game, the competition will ramp up during halftime with Mike & Sulley’s Cheer Canister Competition.
• Boomer Takes Monsters, Inc.: ESPN legend Chris Berman makes his Funday Football debut with a special animated segment.
• NFL Star Cameos: Eagles and Chargers players appear in fun, prerecorded interactions with the Monsters, Inc.

ESPN’s Drew Carter and Dan Orlovsky Call the Action Live from Monstropolis

ESPN play-by-play commentator Drew Carter, who has called every edition of Funday Football and six total animated alternate telecasts across ESPN properties, and NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky, who will be calling his second Funday Football, will be in the broadcast booth as animated versions of themselves within the Monsters, Inc. world. Using virtual reality technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports Virtual Commentator Technology, the duo will experience the action firsthand through VR headsets.

New this year, ESPN sports and lifestyle content creator Katie Feeney will serve as the game’s social media correspondent, appearing in pre-produced segments as an animated version of herself, bringing fans the latest on the Monsters in attendance, an inside look at the Cheer Canister and fun facts about the game.

ESPN Funday Football Receives Various Awards and Recognition

Toy Story Funday Football, the first-of-its-kind NFL broadcast, earned three Sports Emmys (Outstanding Production Design, George Wensel Technical Achievement, and Outstanding Graphic Design) and four US Festival Awards, while The Simpsons Funday Football received multiple Sports Emmy nominations and a SportsPro Media Award nomination for Best Branded Sports Content.

In the ensuing weeks, leading into the presentation, fans can expect to see various previews of Monster Funday Football across ESPN platforms, including social and digital.

The NBA on ESPN returns Wednesday, and as ESPN embarks on the first year of its expanded media rights agreement with the league, it’s doubling down on innovation and fan engagement.

This milestone season not only keeps marquee events like the NBA Finals exclusively on ESPN, but also introduces enhanced production elements and deeper storytelling across platforms.

Complementing these efforts is the newly enhanced ESPN app and direct-to-consumer streaming offering, designed to deliver a seamless, personalized experience for fans wherever they are.

In this Q&A, hear from Tim Corrigan, ESPN Senior Vice President, Sports Production, about what to expect from ESPN’s next season of NBA coverage: from cutting-edge features like real-time shot tracking and locker room access to the integration of iconic programming such as Inside the NBA, ESPN is redefining what comprehensive basketball coverage looks like in today’s media landscape.

This is the first year of ESPN’s new expanded media rights agreement with the NBA. How is that shaping your production strategy and what fans can expect in terms of expanded access or content?

We never lose sight of the fact that we are here to document the games because, ultimately, that’s why the fans are watching. Through access and innovation, compelling storytelling and intrepid reporting, we strive to provide the most informative and entertaining coverage of this endlessly fascinating league and the players, coaches and personnel that comprise it.

As we begin the first year of this new agreement, we are in a position of strength. We will continue to be the exclusive home of the most marquee events all year long, including the NBA Finals. We have added a tremendous analyst in Tim Legler to our lead broadcast team alongside Richard Jefferson and the legendary Mike Breen. We’ve also added an NBA Champion Head Coach Michael Malone to our NBA Countdown coverage, we’ve extended Doris Burke, Malika Andrews and Lisa Salters — three of the best in the industry — and we’re bringing in a 21-time Emmy Award®-winning show in Inside the NBA — which is far and away the biggest chip entering this new rights landscape.

We have our three-point shot tracker, enhanced graphics, player and coach mics, locker room hallway cameras and many other ways we are educating fans and bringing them closer to the game.

And, we’ve only just begun.

With Inside the NBA now airing on ESPN, how are you integrating its legacy and tone into ESPN’s broader NBA coverage?Inside the NBA is one of the most popular shows, not only in sports, but across all media. Ernie, Chuck, Shaq and Kenny are cultural icons and any time you’re able to add those voices to your overall content offerings, you’re going to be in a great position to serve basketball fans.

When ESPN made the Inside the NBA deal, it was done because we wanted the same great show that fans know and love, and that’s what they’re going to get. We’re working closely with our counterparts at TNT Sports — TNT will continue to produce the show — and the transition has been incredibly smooth. Again, Inside the NBA will be the show fans love and now it will be attached to the highest-profile games all year long, including the NBA Finals for the first time.

Strictly from a studio perspective, we now have more NBA shows than ever before, and they’re all distinct in their content offerings. Inside the NBA, NBA Countdown, NBA Today and Hoop Streams will all document the sport in their signature ways. When you consider our studio and game coverage, our digital and social platforms, ESPN Radio offerings — all capped off by the enhanced ESPN App experience — we’ve never been more prepared to cover this league.

On Thursday, ESPN launched its highly anticipated new direct-to-consumer streaming service, bringing the full suite of ESPN networks and services — within an enhanced ESPN App with new, personalized features and functionality — directly to fans.

To find out more, we spoke with Adam Smith, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Disney Entertainment & ESPN, about the service, new features, and what consumers can expect.

Here’s everything you need to know:

What is ESPN direct-to-consumer?

The simplest answer is that it is ESPN… offered via a new direct-to-consumer streaming subscription. More specifically, ESPN is making its full suite of content available directly to fans, for the first time ever. That includes all 12 networks and services, 47,000 live events, along with all the other ESPN shows, documentaries and originals, and some new exclusive content.

Simultaneously, the ESPN app is introducing a set of new, enhanced features that elevate the user experience across connected TV and mobile devices — enabling a more personalized, interactive, and engaging experience for fans.

How do I get it? What are the subscription options and pricing?

You can subscribe to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service via the ESPN app, ESPN.com, or via Disney+ as part of a bundle. There is no new app launching, so fans just subscribe from the popular and already widely distributed apps they know.

ESPN offers two core plans: an unlimited package that delivers the entire suite of ESPN content and a select option.

The ESPN unlimited plan ($29.99/month) gives fans access to all that ESPN offers — all 12 of ESPN’s networks and services — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, ACCNX. It will serve fans with live events, exclusive shows, plus on-demand replays, acclaimed original programming, and more.

The ESPN select plan ($11.99/month) provides subscribers with access to the content available on ESPN+, including 32,000 live sports events per year, a library of exclusive studio shows, on-demand replays, original content, and more.

Both plans are also available via an annual subscription, and both can be bundled with Disney+ and Hulu (consumers can even choose whether Disney+ and Hulu content is with or without ads).

The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN unlimited bundle is also just $29.99/month for the first 12 months. And bundle subscribers can watch ESPN content on the ESPN app (with all the new features) or within Disney+ — seamlessly available alongside the entertainment, news, and family programming from Disney and Hulu.

It is about giving fans the choice and flexibility, so they can subscribe however is best for them.

What are the new App features?

At the same time as the launch of ESPN direct to consumer, we’re introducing a series of new enhancements to the ESPN App that elevate the sports viewing experience across platforms.

“One of ESPN’s biggest competitive advantages is the incredible ecosystem of content and products,” said Smith. “Whether you are a casual or diehard sports fan, we have something for all sports fans. Streaming, highlights, news, scores, stats, fantasy sports, betting, social content, audio… you name it. What makes this launch so special is that it brings this whole ecosystem together in a new way, right alongside the lineup of live events, networks and shows. That is what it means to reimagine the viewing experience. It’s something nobody can do quite like ESPN and Disney, and this is just a starting line. The ESPN products and offering will keep getting better going forward.”

Among the new features being launched are:

• Verts: Verts is a new section on the ESPN app on mobile devices, providing fans a swipe-able, personalized vertical video experience that reimagines and modernizes how they view video in the ESPN mobile app. The “Verts” tab is now a part of the core ESPN app product navigation, and it features a personalized feed of video, including news, highlights, viral clips, analysis, and curated Social Content. The experience is powered by a new, faster, and more advanced personalization algorithm, and Verts carousels will also appear in the main app feed.
• StreamCenter: StreamCenter is a new, modern two-screen experience that allows fans to establish a synched connection between the ESPN app on their TV and mobile as they watch a live event. StreamCenter eliminates information lag and spoilers by enabling fans to synchronize live games on their connected TV device with stats and automated alerts on their mobile device, all while getting synched Gamecast, fantasy, and ESPN BET info on their mobile device. Fans can even control the ESPN app live stream on their TV, right from their mobile device.
• Interactive Features: On Connected TV’s fans will now be able to access integrated live game stats, real-time ESPN Fantasy stats and results, live ESPN BET information, personalized in-game commerce, and more — all through a series of easily opened and closed interactive content panels alongside their live viewing. These include the ability to watch quick turn highlights of Key Plays; see live stats for the game they’re watching (varied based on sport/event); check on their ESPN Fantasy teams and scores; follow their ESPN BET action (for those with linked ESPN BET accounts), or just check odds and markets info (unlinked accounts); and, via a new agreement with Fanatics, fans can even shop for and purchase sports gear as they watch the action.
• Multiview: Fans can watch up to four games simultaneously on the ESPN App on connected TV devices. ESPN first launched Multiview on select connected TV devices in 2017 and it is now extending this feature across all major platforms.
• Catch Up to Live: Highlights are part of ESPN’s DNA. The new Catch Up To Live feature allows fans to watch quick-turn highlights of all the key plays they may have missed during a live game already in progress. On games where it’s available, a fan can watch all the highlights (or just the ones they choose) and, of course, can jump to the live action or “Play from Start” with just one click at any time.
• SportsCenter For You: Launching in Beta, SportsCenter For You is a personalized daily version of SportsCenter delivering highlights, news, and must-see video tailored to each fan’s favorite teams, leagues, and sports interests.

Can you tell me a bit more about SportsCenter for You?SportsCenter is iconic, and for decades it has been a singular show that brings the news, highlights, and more to millions of fans.

“We thought ‘What if we could take the iconic SportsCenter and expand on what that brand can mean to fans,’” explains Smith. “SportsCenter is this singularly amazing show that is produced to reach millions.​ With SportsCenter For You we’re flipping that on its head — saying ‘what if we created millions of shows… personalized for you, individually.’ To do that, we leverage artificial intelligence, the expertise and sensibilities of ESPN storytellers, the voices & style of our talented announcers — scaled out via AI in partnership with them — and ESPN’s unmatched video library and infrastructure.”

At launch, SportsCenter For You is still in a Beta phase as it continues to improve day-in and day-out. It features AI-generated commentary derived from the voices of SportsCenter anchors Hannah Storm, Gary Striewski and Christine Williamson, and ESPN Digital & Social commentator Omar Raja.

Do I need to subscribe to the ESPN Unlimited plan to get all the new features?

No. All of these new features are available to all fans using the ESPN app.

If you have access to watch ESPN streaming content — whether that is from ESPN directly or through a multichannel TV provider — the enhanced viewing features are there for you.

Because SC For You is highly personalized, in order to get that delivered daily they must have access to the main ESPN network via some type of subscription (DTC or via a TV provider) and be logged in.

What is included in ESPN Unlimited? Are NFL and WWE events part of this after the recent deals?

ESPN unlimited includes all that content and coverage that ESPN offers across an unmatched rights portfolio, including content in the recently announced agreements with the NFL and WWE.

It also means fans get games and events from the NHL, NBA, WNBA, UFC, and UFL; college sports including the SEC, ACC, Big 12, and College Football Playoff, plus the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship and 40 other NCAA championships; LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL, and FA Cup soccer; Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open tennis; The Masters, PGA Championship, PGA TOUR, and TGL golf; Little League World Series baseball and softball; Premier Lacrosse League; and much more.

It also includes all of ESPN’s award-winning studio programs, documentaries, originals, and the full, 24/7 linear stream of all 12 networks and services.

ESPN unlimited will also soon be offered as part of a Fox One bundle (starting October 2 for $39.99/month) and in a bundle with NFL+ Premium that includes NFL Redzone (starting September 3 for $39.99/month).

What happens if I have ESPN through a cable, satellite, or streaming TV package?

That’s great! ESPN will continue to be distributed via Pay TV providers and ESPN is focused on serving fans, whether they subscribe to ESPN networks directly or through a multichannel provider. Just as they have been able to do for years, all fans with a multichannel subscription can authenticate that subscription to the ESPN App and access the networks & content they have through their package. Plus, they will have access to the same enhanced experiences within the ESPN app via their subscription.

There will be some select ESPN DTC-exclusive content which is available only via an ESPN unlimited subscription or via multichannel partners with which ESPN has specific agreements in place. Discussions with other major distributors are ongoing, and we expect the vast majority of the pay-TV universe will have rights to access the exclusive ESPN unlimited content this year.

Offering this choice to fans is true to our mission: To serve sports fans. Anytime. Anywhere.

Can I watch all of ESPN on Disney+ now?

Subscribers to the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited bundle can choose to watch all the ESPN content right inside Disney+ — or they can choose to watch it in the ESPN App (and its enhanced features).

Last December, ESPN+ content was integrated into Disney+ and this launch marks another big step in the evolution of Disney+ as a one-of-a-kind entertainment destination where audiences can watch all of The Walt Disney Company’s entertainment, sports, news, and family programming in one place.

Timed with this launch, Disney+ is also introducing a new “Live” hub to its navigation, letting fans easily find all the sports, news, Disney+ Streams, and other live, in one place, anytime. The Live hub is launching on select platforms initially and rolling out to all major platforms in the coming weeks.

Will current ESPN+ subscribers be migrated automatically? Is ESPN+ going away?

ESPN+ is not going away. Certain aspects of the current ESPN+ brand design may change, but the name “ESPN+” will remain.

Existing ESPN+ subscribers will automatically become subscribers to ESPN’s select plan and existing Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle subscribers will continue to receive the same content through the ESPN and Disney+ apps.

ESPN and WWE today announced that WWE Premium Live Events will debut on ESPN platforms beginning September 20, earlier than previously announced.

The first WWE PLE to kick off the ESPN partnership will be the first-ever Wrestlepalooza on Saturday, September 20, live from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis — host city of the 2025 Royal Rumble, which set the event’s all-time attendance record. Wrestlepalooza will stream live on the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

On September 20, ESPN becomes the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE PLEs, with all PLEs available to ESPN DTC subscribers with the unlimited plan. Additional upcoming WWE PLEs this year include Crown Jewelon Saturday, October 11, and Survivor Serieson Saturday, November 29.

Wrestlepalooza will feature a blockbuster headline attraction with John Cena, as well as Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre in major matches throughout the night. This event, held in partnership with Indiana Sports Corp, will mark the last time Cena wrestles in Indianapolis.

“On September 20, WWE and ESPN are coming together for a can’t-miss event to kick off our new partnership,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “The biggest Superstars in WWE. The biggest brand in sports media. Are you ready?”

Tickets for Wrestlepalooza will go on sale starting Friday, August 22 at 10am ET/7am PT via Ticketmaster.com. Presale for Wrestlepalooza tickets will begin tomorrow/Thursday at 10am ET/7am PT.

Additionally, official Wrestlepalooza Priority Pass packages are now available through WWE’s exclusive partner, On Location, offering fans premium seating, hospitality events featuring Superstar appearances, exclusive photo opportunities, and more. Fans can buy packages now to secure access before the general public. To learn more about Wrestlepalooza Priority Pass packages or to purchase, please visit: https://onlocationexp.com/wweindy.

The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. Marquee PLEs include WrestleManiaand SummerSlam— both two-night events — as well as Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank, among others. WWE PLEs will be available to all ESPN DTC subscribers with the unlimited plan.

ESPN will launch its new DTC streaming service and a set of new features on an enhanced ESPN App on Thursday, August 21. Fans can visit http://stream.espn.com/ for more information on ESPN DTC options and pricing.

ESPN is ushering in a bold new chapter on Thursday with the launch of its standalone direct-to-consumer streaming service. Simply named “ESPN,” the platform offers fans unprecedented access to the full ESPN ecosystem — live games, studio shows, original content, and all 12 networks — without the need for a traditional cable subscription.

To learn more about the launch, we spoke with Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN, about what it means for ESPN, streaming, and the future of sports.

You’ve called ESPN’s new DTC service “probably the biggest transition in our history.” What makes this moment so pivotal, and how do you envision it reshaping ESPN’s relationship with its audience?

This is a defining moment not just for ESPN, but for how sports are experienced in the digital age. For the first time, fans will have direct access to the full ESPN ecosystem — live games, studio shows, original content, and our entire portfolio of 12 networks — all in one place. That’s a whole new way in which we can connect with our audience.

What makes this transition so pivotal is the control it gives fans. They’ll be able to personalize their experience — whether that means following specific teams, leagues, or personalities, or curating alerts and highlights that match their interests. It’s about meeting fans where they are, on the devices they use most, and giving them the flexibility to engage on their terms.

This isn’t just a new offering — it’s a strategic evolution. We’ve spent years preparing for this moment: securing rights, investing in technology, and learning from how fans consume content across platforms. It positions us to serve every kind of sports fan — anytime, anywhere.

And we’re not stopping here. This launch is the foundation for a future where ESPN is more interactive, more immersive, and more responsive to the changing rhythms of fandom. It’s the next chapter in our mission to be the most trusted and innovative voice in sports.

How does ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer platform fit into Disney’s overall streaming strategy alongside Disney+ and Hulu — and what unique role do you see it playing in driving subscriber growth and engagement across the portfolio? 

The ESPN DTC launch complements Disney+ and Hulu perfectly. Each service has its own unique audience proposition, and together they form a powerful portfolio that can meet a wide range of consumer interests. ESPN’s role in that ecosystem is clear — we’re the destination for the most and best live sports rights, paired with world-class storytelling, analysis, and original programming. The ESPN DTC service also opens up exciting opportunities for bundling — whether that’s with Disney+ and Hulu for the incredible value of $29.99 for the first 12 months, or with partners like FOX One and NFL+ Premium — to create even more value for fans. That approach not only drives subscriber growth, it deepens engagement across the Disney streaming portfolio.

The new DTC platform includes integrations for betting, fantasy, and commerce. How are you thinking about personalization and interactivity as part of the fan experience?  

Personalization is at the heart of the new ESPN experience. The enhanced app is built to adapt to each fan’s preferences — from a personalized SC For You, to integrated live stats, to multiview options that let you watch multiple games at once. And for fans who want it, we’re making it seamless to engage with ESPN Fantasy updates, betting through ESPN BET, or shopping for gear in real time during a game via a partnership with Fanatics. ESPN Digital & Social platforms already reach more than 190 million unique fans every month, nearly 70% of the total number of adults in the U.S. The goal is to give fans more ways to connect with the sports they love — whether that’s simply watching, diving deeper into stats, or participating in the action.

How are you positioning ESPN’s DTC service in an ever-growing streaming landscape?  

We’re launching from a position of incredible strength — both in brand and in rights. ESPN has the deepest and most diverse live sports portfolio in its history, spanning 47,000 live events across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, Tennis Majors, PGA TOUR LIVE and Golf Majors, UFC, WWE, international soccer, and more. That gives us a truly differentiated product in the streaming market. We’re not trying to be everything to everyone; we’re here to be everything to sports fans. And while making our networks available directly to consumer opens a new distribution path, the traditional cable and satellite ecosystem remains incredibly important to us. We’re committed to walking parallel paths — serving our cable partners while also making ESPN directly available to any fan who wants it. That combination sets us apart in the industry.

This summer, ESPN’s SportsCenter embarked on an ambitious journey: visiting all 50 states in 50 days. Led by David Roberts, Executive Vice President, Executive Editor, Sports News and Entertainment, the tour brought ESPN’s flagship program directly to communities nationwide — from small-town baseball fields to iconic American landmarks. The result was a celebration of storytelling, connection, and the shared joy of sports that mirrors Disney’s mission to entertain, inform, and inspire.

As the tour wrapped on Saturday in Pennsylvania at The Little League World Series, Roberts sat down to reflect on the vision behind the project, the moments that stood out, and the lasting impact on fans and the SportsCenter team.

What was the inspiration behind taking SportsCenter to all 50 states, and how did the idea come together?
The inspiration was simple: bring SportsCenter to our fans, wherever they are. This marks the first time in 20 years that we’ve undertaken a cross-country tour of this scale, and it was directly inspired by our 2005 SportsCenter Across America effort. We wanted to reimagine that concept for a modern, digital-first audience — one that consumes sports across screens and platforms — while staying true to the idea of physically showing up in communities. It’s also part of our broader commitment to connecting with fans in every way possible ahead of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer launch on Thursday, August 21.

From a content perspective, what did you want fans to feel or experience when SportsCenter arrived in their state?
We wanted every stop to feel like a celebration — not just of sports, but of the local community itself. Our goal was for fans to see themselves reflected in our coverage. Whether it was highlighting a beloved high school team or a unique local sporting tradition, we wanted fans to experience SportsCenter as a partner in telling their hometown story.

Which stops or stories surprised you the most, and why?
Every stop had something special, but the surprises often came from the unique ways communities welcomed us. In Iowa, our visit to the Field of Dreams ballpark created a nostalgic moment that resonated with fans of all ages. In Mississippi, the Neshoba County Fair — with its mix of horse races, Southern hospitality, and community spirit — was a perfect showcase of local culture. And in Pennsylvania, covering the Little League World Series reminded us of the pure joy and sportsmanship at the heart of the game. Those moments reinforced how deeply sports are woven into the cultural fabric of every place we visited.

How do you think the tour has changed the way fans view SportsCenter and ESPN?
I think it’s made us feel more approachable. Fans saw our anchors out in the field, sometimes in cowboy hats, sometimes on whitewater rafts — and that broke down the barrier between “TV personality” and “real person.” It showed that SportsCenter isn’t just about scores and highlights; it’s about shared experiences, local pride, and the power of storytelling.

ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer service and FOX One, Fox Corporation’s wholly-owned direct to consumer streaming service, today announced an agreement that will give consumers the opportunity to purchase the two services bundled together starting October 2 for $39.99 per month.

“Working with FOX One on this bundle offer allows us to bring ESPN’s world-class sports content to even more fans in a seamless and innovative way,” said Sean Breen, EVP, Disney Platform Distribution. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to delivering premium experiences across platforms and meeting consumers where they are — anytime, anywhere.”

“Announcing ESPN as our first bundle partner is evidence of our desire to deliver the best possible value and viewing experience to our shared customers,” said Tony Billetter, SVP, Strategy and Business Development, FOX Direct to Consumer. “Viewers will have access to an incredible portfolio of content through this bundle, including NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, College Football and Basketball, NASCAR, INDYCAR, UFC, as well as the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and more as we continue to look for opportunities to streamline the user experience, especially for the ultimate sports fan.”

The ESPN DTC offering will give fans access to all of ESPN’s linear networks — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes — in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, SECN+, and ACCNX, covering 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, studio shows, original programming, as well as newly expanded NFL content and more. For more information about ESPN DTC, visit www.Stream.ESPN.com.

FOX One will bring all of FOX’s leading News, Sports and Entertainment branded content together in one dynamic streaming platform. For the first time, cord-cutters and cord-nevers will have live streaming and on-demand access to the real-time thrills, bold voices, and defining stories across the full portfolio of FOX brands including FOX News Channel, FOX Business, FOX Weather, FOX Sports, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, FOX Deportes, FOX Local Stations and the FOX Network as well as the option to bundle FOX Nation and B1G+ within one platform. The latest updates and information about the upcoming FOX One service are available at www.FOXOne.com.

The ESPN DTC offering and FOX One service will both individually become available to consumers beginning August 21 and the combined bundle will be available for purchase beginning on October 2.

All of ESPN. All in One Place. Coming August 21
For the first time ever, ESPN will offer its full suite of networks and services directly to fans, along with an enhanced ESPN App that integrates game stats, betting information, fantasy sports, commerce, multiview options and a personalized SportsCenter For You. Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, these new features and functionality will be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package.

ESPN and the NFL have reached new licensing agreements, extending ESPN’s NFL Draft rights and, separately, adding NFL programming and content to ESPN’s upcoming Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) service, as well as to Disney+. The agreement also includes the opportunity for fans to bundle ESPN’s DTC service with NFL+ Premium.

ESPN and NFL Reach Multi-Year Extension on NFL Draft

The multi-year NFL Draft licensing agreement builds upon ESPN’s rich history surrounding the event over the past 46 years, as ESPN was the first network to televise the selection process in 1980. Beginning with the 2026 NFL Draft, Disney+ and Hulu will also stream ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes’ trio of Draft presentations. All offerings will be available on ESPN’s DTC service. Additional alternate NFL Draft presentations from ESPN will be available on the same streaming platforms, as will a new daily show dedicated to the NFL Draft. The new show, which will air on ESPN2 most days, will launch the day following the Super Bowl and continue through that year’s Draft. More highlights:

• ESPN and ABC will each produce telecasts for Rounds 1-3 on Thursday and Friday—a staple of ESPN’s presentation since 2019. On Saturday, ESPN will continue to air Rounds 4-7, with ABC simulcasting the network’s coverage.
• ESPN can add other alternate telecasts across streaming platforms for Rounds 1-7.
• Premier football shows, College GameDay and NFL Live, will continue to be on-site from the NFL Draft.
• ESPN Radio will continue its live broadcast of the NFL Draft.

ESPN and NFL Reach Additional Licensing Agreement Centered Around NFL Rights For ESPN’s DTC Service
Separately, ESPN and the NFL have reached an agreement to expand the NFL experience across ESPN’s DTC service and Disney+. The agreement includes rights for additional NFL content for ESPN as well as robust interactive features to deepen the experience for fans. ESPN’s DTC offering will also stream select out-of-market NFL preseason games during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. ESPN will also be able to sell and bundle NFL+ Premium, the League’s DTC service that launched in 2022, with ESPN’s DTC service, which gives fans the ability to watch NFL Network and NFL RedZone through the NFL+ Premium offering. Additional rights and features that ESPN will offer include:

• Highlights for ESPN’s new, innovative, and personalized SportsCenter For You, and the industry-leading ESPN Fantasy Football platform.
• Fans can utilize the new ESPN App multiview feature while watching ESPN’s NFL games and shows through the ESPN App, such as the traditional Monday Night Football telecast and MNF with Peyton and Eli at the same time, or multiple games when MNF has two games on the same night.
• Deeper customization with enhanced interactive features that engage fans watching and following the NFL, including the ability to view personalized ESPN Fantasy Football team performance, legalized sports betting information and bet tracking, and integrated games stats on their connected television or mobile device.
• Exclusive to ESPN DTC subscribers, a video-on-demand Monday Night Football
• Additional NFL content on Disney+, including the potential for select NFL simulcasts for Disney+ subscribers and the inclusion of incremental highlight rights within shows like Vibe Check and SportsCenter+.
  

ESPN will launch its new previously announced direct-to-consumer streaming service on Thursday, August 21, bringing the full suite of ESPN networks and services – within an enhanced ESPN App with new, personalized features and functionality – directly to fans.

Timed for a marquee stretch of live sports programming across ESPN platforms, the launch of ESPN DTC coincides with the start of the college football and NFL seasons, US Open tennis, international soccer, women’s college soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and more – with the start of the WNBA playoffs, PLL playoffs, and NBA and NHL seasons, as well as UFC and WWE events just around the corner.

Designed to give fans more choice and flexibility, ESPN DTC will offer two plans, including an unlimited plan for $29.99/month that gives fans access to all of ESPN’s linear networks – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes – in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX, covering 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, studio shows, original programming, and more. Bundling opportunities for the ESPN unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu include a special offer at launch for $29.99/month for the first 12 months.

All subscribers to ESPN’s unlimited plan – either through ESPN DTC or a traditional Pay TV provider – will have live and on-demand access to all of ESPN’s leading studio shows – including SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, The Pat McAfee Show, Pardon the Interruption, College GameDay, NBA Today, Inside the NBA, The Rich Eisen Show, and more – plus a robust, on-demand library featuring 30 for 30 films, ESPN Originals, replays, and more.

The enhanced ESPN App will introduce a more personalized, dynamic viewing experience for fans. New features will include updated multiview options, integrated game stats, betting information, fantasy sports and commerce, along with a personalized SC For You.

For more details, including subscription pricing, bundle options and more, visit https://bit.ly/ESPNDTC.

ESPN’s Direct-to-Consumer Service to Stream All WWE Premium Live Events in their Entirety, Including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank and More

ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc., today announced a landmark rights agreement as ESPN platforms, including the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, will become the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), including the two-night cultural phenomenon WrestleMania, starting in 2026. This deal makes ESPN home to the highest-profile WWE events of the year.

The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. Marquee PLEs include WrestleMania and SummerSlam – both two-night events – and Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank, among others. WWE will continue to produce all PLEs.

Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN: “WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we’re excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.” Mark Shapiro, President and Chief Operating Officer, TKO: “We are proud to reinforce the “E” in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can’t-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.”

Nick Khan, President, WWE: “WWE’s agreement with ESPN is a pivotal moment for our millions of fans across the United States: the leader in sports entertainment partnering with the biggest brand in sports media. Bringing WWE’s flagship events to ESPN’s platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit.”

ESPN platforms, including its DTC service, will have the opportunity to stream WWE’s pre-and post-event shows tied to all Premium Live Events.

Fans to Benefit from Increased Consumer Choice, Greater Accessibility, and Expanded High-Quality Programming and Content Offerings Through ESPN

ESPN to Own and Operate NFL Network, With Plans to Fully Integrate it into ESPN’s Upcoming Direct-to-Consumer Service

NFL’s RedZone Channel to Join The Walt Disney Company’s Linear Networks Distribution Portfolio; and ESPN Fantasy Football to Combine with NFL Fantasy, Creating an Enhanced Offering and Broader Reach to Meet Global Demand

NFL to Also License Games, NFL RedZone, NFL Films programming as well as Content and Other Rights to ESPN 

ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and the National Football League (NFL) today announced a non-binding agreement under which ESPN will acquire NFL Network and certain other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL — including NFL’s linear RedZone Channel, and NFL Fantasy — in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. In addition to the sale of NFL Network, the NFL and ESPN are also entering into a second non-binding agreement, under which the NFL will license to ESPN certain NFL content and other intellectual property to be used by NFL Network and other assets.

These transactions between America’s most popular sporting league and the world’s most innovative sports media leader are designed to set a new standard for how professional football is delivered, experienced and celebrated by fans.

“Today’s announcement paves the way for the world’s leading sports media brand and America’s most popular sport to deliver an even more compelling experience for NFL fans, in a way that only ESPN and Disney can,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Commissioner Goodell and the NFL have built outstanding media assets, and these transactions will add to consumer choice, provide viewers with even greater convenience and quality, and expand the breadth and value proposition of Disney’s streaming ecosystem.”

“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Whether it was debuting Thursday Night Football, televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. The Network’s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways.”

“This is an exciting day for sports fans,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN. “By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN’s reach and innovation, we’re creating a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game—anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN’s digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.”

Additional Details

This new relationship brings together some of the NFL’s premier media brands and fan-engagement platforms with ESPN’s deep experience in producing and distributing high-quality and innovative sports programming. ESPN intends to deploy its resources and expertise in the development of NFL Network, distribution of the RedZone Channel and fantasy, to expand audience reach, increase accessibility and flexibility for consumers, drive innovation, and offer even more high-quality content to fans at highly competitive prices. As a result of this sale, NFL programming will be available on more platforms than ever before, including ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) service, while remaining on cable, satellite and leading streaming providers. ESPN’s DTC offering will deliver an array of NFL content to subscribers.

Under the terms of these agreements:

• • NFL Network, including both linear and digital rights, would be owned and operated by ESPN and fully integrated into ESPN DTC, alongside traditional pay television distribution, increasing accessibility and flexibility for consumers and promoting innovation in sports programming.
  • ESPN would own broad rights to the RedZone brand and distribute the NFL RedZone Channel to pay TV operators for continued inclusion into their sports packages.
  • NFL Fantasy Football would merge with ESPN Fantasy Football, creating the official Fantasy season-long game of the NFL and one best-in-class digital experience, driving innovation and enabling broader reach to meet global demand.
  • In total, ESPN’s platforms will license an additional three NFL games per season to air on NFL Network as a result of today’s news. In addition, ESPN will adjust its overall NFL game schedule, with four games (including some from overlapping windows) shifting to the NFL Network, which will continue to present seven games per season.
  • The NFL will continue to own and operate its retained media businesses including properties such as NFL Films and key fan-facing platforms such as NFL+, NFL.com, the NFL Podcast Network, the NFL FAST Channel and the official sites for the league’s 32 clubs. It will also continue to own, operate, and produce NFL RedZone, and retain the rights to distribute NFL RedZone digitally.

The transactions are subject to the parties’ negotiation of definitive agreements, various approvals including by the NFL team owners, and customary closing conditions.

ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.

Forward-Looking Statements

The terms “Company,” “we,” and “our” below and “Disney” above are used to refer collectively to The Walt Disney Company and the subsidiaries through which our various businesses are actually conducted.Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward‐looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs and business plans; transactions for which conditions to close have not been satisfied, including entering into definitive agreements, regulatory or other approvals or other conditions; content, benefits and timing of future product offerings; consumer sentiment; and other statements that are not historical in nature. Any information that is not historical in nature is subject to change. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Management does not undertake any obligation to update these statements.  Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company or the discovery of additional information, as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including: failure to enter into definitive agreements, obtain regulatory or other approvals or satisfy other conditions; other regulatory and legal developments; the availability of, and competition for, as applicable, programming, subscribers, talent and distribution channels; and consumer preferences and product acceptance. Additional factors are set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Vibe Check — the new female-led sports studio show exclusive to Disney+, produced by ESPN — has announced a premiere date of Monday, June 30. New episodes will drop every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5 p.m. ET on Disney+.

The program will spotlight a panel of ESPN’s most prominent female voices — featuring Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter, Monica McNutt, Chiney Ogwumike, Hannah Storm and more. The show will call upon the rotating panel’s expertise, insight, and storytelling to provide a fresh, perspective-driven approach to sports coverage.

Vibe Check will deliver fast-paced coverage of a variety of sports with expert analysis, all-access moments, savvy opinions and a healthy dose of laughter — all while bringing audiences bold perspectives and unbeatable vibes.

The show is ESPN’s second exclusive content offering on Disney+, joining SC+, a daily edition of SportsCenter, which debuted March 3.

Disney+ standalone subscribers have access to a curated selection of content from ESPN+ and Hulu including live sports events, studio shows, ESPN and Hulu Originals, TV series and films — all in one place. Subscribers to the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle can view the full ESPN+ content offering including more than 30,000 live sports events yearly and a library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content and studio programming.

This summer, ESPN’s flagship news and information program will travel from coast to coast with the launch of SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days — a nationwide tour designed to bring SportsCenter and its anchors directly to fans across the country.

Beginning Friday, June 27, the ESPN tour will feature a mix of live on-site shows and storytelling segments from a different state each day for 50 consecutive days. While originating from high-profile athletic venues and events to unique hometown locales, the initiative will spotlight rivalries and community traditions, while capturing the full spectrum of what it means to be a sports fan in every corner of America.

The seven-week effort reflects ESPNs continued focus on reaching fans wherever they are — both physically and digitally, helping to build the anticipation for ESPN’s direct-to-consumer launch later this year.

“SportsCenter isn’t just a studio show — it’s part of the fabric of sports culture across the country, and we can’t wait for our anchors and other ESPN personalities to show up in people’s backyards as we celebrate the passion for sports that we all share,” said David Roberts, ESPN Executive Vice President, Executive Editor, Sports News and Entertainment.

This marks the first time in 20 years that SportsCenter has embarked on a cross-country tour of this scale. ESPN last presented a “50 States in 50 Days” summer tour in 2005 with SportsCenter Across America, making this year’s effort a nod to that tradition — reimagined for a new generation of sports fans.

Segments from each stop will be featured across ESPN platforms — including multiple SportsCenter editions on ESPN, the ESPN App, and ESPN social. Additional tour details, including anchor assignments, featured locations and fan engagement opportunities, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Today at The Disney Upfront, ESPN and Disney+ announced the development of Vibe Check — a new all-female-led sports-focused studio show set to premiere exclusively on Disney+ in late June.

Streaming new episodes three times a week, the show will deliver fast-paced coverage of every sport with expert analysis, all-access moments, unapologetic opinions and a healthy dose of laughter — all while bringing audiences bold perspectives and unbeatable vibes. Featuring a powerhouse panel of female talent, the program will spotlight ESPN’s most prominent voices, leveraging their expertise, insight, and storytelling to provide a fresh, perspective-driven approach to sports coverage. With a focus on delivering a modern, cross-platform experience, the show will offer dynamic content tailored for digital and social platforms in addition to Disney+.

“We are incredibly excited to launch this new show, which will provide a powerful platform for the brilliant women at ESPN,” said Burke Magnus, President of Content, ESPN. “The voices that will be leading this program have long been shaping the sports landscape, and now they’ll have this additional platform to bring their unique insights to the forefront in an even more impactful way for Disney+ subscribers.”

The show will be ESPN’s second exclusive content offering on Disney+, joining SC+, a new daily edition of SportsCenter, which debuted March 3.

Disney+ standalone subscribers have access to a curated selection of content from ESPN+ and Hulu including live sports events, studio shows, ESPN and Hulu Originals, TV series and films — all in one place. Subscribers to the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle can view the full ESPN+ content offering including more than 30,000 live sports events yearly and a library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content and studio programming.

• ESPN linear networks available direct to fans for first time ever in early fall
• Two ESPN subscription plans and Disney bundling options available
• ESPN unlimited plan priced at $29.99 per month; select plan at $11.99
• Special offer at launch: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN unlimited bundle at $29.99/month for first 12 months
• Enhanced ESPN App to introduce new features, personalized fan-friendly experiences

Recognizing the deep connection the ESPN brand has established with sports fans and the significance of the moment, the new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service will be named ESPN, it was announced today by Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Chairman. Fans will have two ESPN DTC plans from which to choose, including an unlimited package that delivers the entire suite of ESPN networks and content.

Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN via the enhanced ESPN App, the plans will cost $29.99/month for the unlimited package and $11.99/month for a select option. There will also be bundling opportunities for the ESPN unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu, including a special offer at launch for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. It was previously announced that the direct-to-consumer offering will launch in early fall and that ESPN will continue to be available through traditional MVPDs and DMVPDs.

“We are providing everything ESPN has to offer directly to fans and all in one place,” Pitaro said. “As we thought about the name, we kept returning to the fact that, across every generation, ESPN is the most trusted, loved and recognized name in sports, and that we should keep it simple and double down on the power of ESPN. Our straightforward approach to name and pricing will help fans cut through the clutter, and provide them compelling options to access all our content within the enhanced ESPN App. It will be the ultimate sports destination for personalized experiences and features, and, on top of that, fans will be able to choose to bundle ESPN with the industry-leading Disney+ and Hulu streaming services.”

The unlimited plan will give fans access to all of ESPN’s linear networks – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes – in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX, covering 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, studio shows, original programming, and more. ESPN’s unprecedented rights portfolio includes the NFL; NBA; NHL; MLB; WNBA; UFC; UFL; SEC; ACC; Big 12; College Football Playoff; 40 NCAA championships including the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship; LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL, and FA Cup soccer; Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open tennis; The Masters, PGA Championship, PGA TOUR, and TGL golf; Little League World Series baseball and softball; Premier Lacrosse League; and more. ESPN’s leading studio shows include the iconic SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, The Pat McAfee Show, Pardon the Interruption, College GameDay, NBA Today, and others, along with on-demand content including 30 for 30 films, ESPN Originals, and more.

• • Monthly subscription: $29.99
  • Annual subscription: $299.99
  • Disney+, Hulu, ESPN unlimited bundle: $35.99/month (with ads on Disney+/Hulu), $44.99/month (no ads on Disney+/Hulu*)
  • Special offer at launch: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN unlimited bundle for $29.99/month for the first 12 months (with ads on Disney+/Hulu)

The select plan will provide subscribers with access to all content available on ESPN+, including more than 32,000 live sports events annually, a robust library of exclusive studio shows, on-demand replays, acclaimed original content, and more.

• • Monthly subscription: $11.99
  • Annual subscription: $119.99
  • Disney+, Hulu, ESPN select bundle: $16.99/month (with ads on Disney+/Hulu), $26.99/month (no ads on Disney+/Hulu*)

Existing ESPN+ subscribers will automatically become subscribers to ESPN’s new service, based on their current subscription level. Standalone ESPN+ subscribers get the ESPN select plan, and Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle subscribers get the ESPN select bundle.

At launch, ESPN will introduce a series of enhancements to the industry-leading ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices. The new features and functionality will be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package.

Fans with subscriptions to the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN bundles will be able to watch ESPN content within Disney+ seamlessly alongside Disney and Hulu entertainment and family programming.

Additional details, including the specific launch date, will be announced later this summer.

*Ads will be served in select live and linear content.

For the first time in 22 years, Disney, ESPN and Rich Eisen are joining forces, as the former SportsCenter anchor will bring The Rich Eisen Show to Disney+ and ESPN+ beginning this fall. The Emmy-nominated program will stream on weekdays in its traditional noon to 3 p.m. ET timeslot, with its debut on both platforms coinciding with the launch of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer offering.

Eisen’s reconnection with ESPN, his home from 1996 to 2003, will go beyond The Rich Eisen Show to include select appearances across ESPN studio programming. During his original ESPN tenure, Eisen was a prominent SportsCenter anchor while also contributing to multiple high-profile events. Separate from Eisen’s newest agreement, he maintains his role at NFL Network.

The Rich Eisen Show will continue to originate out of Los Angeles and features an engaging mix of sports, humor and pop culture, including an array of signature guests, driving the show to become a leader and conversation starter in the sports media landscape for more than a decade. Since launching in 2014, The Rich Eisen Show has been nominated for multiple Emmys and, in 2023, Eisen was honored with the prestigious Marconi Radio Award for “Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year,” recognizing his excellence in radio broadcasting

“Rich Eisen is an ESPN icon and his return to Disney and ESPN platforms is a great win for all,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN President of Content. “The Rich Eisen Show is a unique blend that fans seek, approaching sports conversations with information, heart and humor, featuring guests from sports, music, entertainment and beyond. We will continue to be aggressive in adding premier content to our platforms, with The Rich Eisen Show being today’s example.”

Said Rich Eisen, President/CEO of Rich Eisen Productions. “To say this has been a long time coming is an understatement, especially considering I never thought a reunion with ESPN would happen in any role, let alone such a crucial one of ‘partner.’ Immense thanks to Jimmy Pitaro, Burke Magnus and Dave Roberts for their belief in The Rich Eisen Show and our amazing crew, without whom none of this could have been possible. I can’t wait to connect alike with new fans on Disney and ESPN’s many platforms and reconnect with long-time ones who remember me with hair.”

Star-Studded Guests Have Joined The Rich Eisen Show
Throughout its 11-year run, The Rich Eisen Show has attracted some of the most recognizable names in sports and entertainment, including Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley, Travis Kelce, Josh Allen, Deion Sanders, Robert DeNiro, Matt Damon, Jerry Seinfeld, Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Larry David, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Morgan Freeman, John Hamm, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and other notables.

Good Karma Brands, ESPN’s partner across digital video, audio, and podcasts, will also be involved in the sales component of The Rich Eisen Show.More on Rich Eisen
One of television’s most visible anchors and personalities, Rich Eisen was a mainstay at ESPN before becoming the first on-air talent added at the NFL Network in June 2003, five months before the network’s launch.

More than 20 years later, he continues to be a centerpiece at the NFL Network, having garnered four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Studio Host along the way. Each Sunday morning throughout the NFL season, Eisen hosts the network’s Emmy-nominated NFL GameDay Morning and is the signature host of the NFL Network, anchoring the network’s on-location coverage of the NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine and Super Bowl. He also serves as the emcee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Canton, Ohio.

In 2017, Eisen was honored as the 12th Pat Summerall Award recipient at the St. Jude Legends of Charity Dinner. A tireless supporter of St. Jude, Eisen transitioned his annual Spring “Run Rich Run” event to become a fundraiser and has raised more than $8M for the children’s hospital.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Eisen earned a Master of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1994.

He resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Suzy Shuster. Together they have three children and two rescue dogs.

Lee Corso, the legendary ESPN broadcaster and former coach who has entertained fans for 38 college football seasons, will make his final headgear pick on College GameDay Built by The Home Depot on Saturday, Aug. 30 — Week 1 of the 2025 college football season — at a destination to be announced later this spring. ESPN will also present special programming celebrating Corso in the days leading up to Aug. 30 (date/time TBD).

Corso, who turns 90 in August, has been a part of college football’s premier pregame show since it debuted in 1987. His very first headgear pick was October 5, 1996, when he donned Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeye mascot head in Columbus, Ohio. Corso’s weekly end-of-show pick during GameDay’s Saturday Selections has become a college football tradition, surprising and delighting fans for nearly three decades. Entering his final broadcast in August, Corso has made 430 headgear picks all-time, including the Buckeyes a record 45 times.

“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” said Corso. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”

Corso added: “ESPN has been exceptionally generous to me, especially these past few years. They accommodated me and supported me, as did my colleagues in the early days of College GameDay. Special thanks to Kirk Herbstreit for his friendship and encouragement. And lest I forget, the fans… truly a blessing to share this with them. ESPN gave me this wonderful opportunity and provided me the support to ensure success. I am genuinely grateful.”

“Lee Corso has developed a special connection to generations of fans through his entertaining style and iconic headgear picks,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “Lee is one of the most influential and beloved figures in the history of college football and our ESPN team will celebrate his legendary career during his final College GameDay appearance this August.”

Corso joined ESPN in 1987, following a 28-year coaching career at the college and professional levels – including 17 seasons as a head coach at Louisville (1969-72), Indiana (1973-82), Northern Illinois (1984) and with the USFL’s Orlando Renegades (1985). He is the only original College GameDay personality still with the show. (He was a contributor in 1987-88 and joined as an analyst in 1989). During his tenure, College GameDay has earned nine Sports Emmy awards in the Most Outstanding Studio Show — Weekly category and is nominated again this year.

Alongside host Chris Fowler and Craig James, Corso was part of College GameDay’s first-ever road show on November 13, 1993 as No. 2 Notre Dame hosted No. 1 Florida State in the ‘Game of the Century’. In front of a packed crowd inside the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind., Corso — a Florida State alum and a former star defensive back for the Seminoles in the 1950s, knew exactly how to stir the crowd, placing an FSU cap on his head as he offered his game prediction.

“It has been among the greatest joys and privileges of my life to work with, laugh with, and learn from Lee Corso for more than 35 incredible years,” said Fowler, who hosted College GameDay and worked side-by-side with Corso from 1990-2014. “His courage and resilience have inspired millions. Through his groundbreaking work on College GameDay, Lee has been an indelible force in the growth of college football’s popularity. He’s a born entertainer and singular television talent. But at his heart he’ll always be a coach, with an abiding love and respect for the game and the people who play it.”

During Corso’s coast-to-coast travels with College GameDay, he has entertained crowds on more than 70 campuses and other game sites and made headgear picks spanning 69 different teams. He coined the memorable catchphrase, “Not so fast, my friend!” while holding his signature Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 pencil. The indelible moments he has authored are endless: He’s danced with the Fighting Irish’s leprechaun, ridden a motorcycle with the Oregon Duck, mounted a 17-foot fake elephant, sparred with pop star Katy Perry, wrestled with actors Bill Murray and Will Ferrell, dressed as James Madison, Ben Franklin, the Statue of Liberty and Elvis Presley, and so much more — even notoriously dropping an F-bomb on-air (whoops!).

While fans have been enthralled by Corso’s football knowledge and showmanship, they’ve also been moved by the special father-son type bond he shares with Herbstreit. Corso mentored the former Ohio State quarterback when he joined the show in 1996, and when they called Thursday Night college football games together with Mike Tirico from 1999-2006. Herbstreit has been Corso’s biggest supporter on-set and behind the scenes, especially as Corso has overcome a stroke and other health-related issues in recent years.

“Coach Corso has had an iconic run in broadcasting, and we’re all lucky to have been around to witness it. He has taught me so much throughout our time together, and he’s been like a second father to me,” said Herbstreit, who has worked alongside Corso for 29 seasons on College GameDay. “It has been my absolute honor to have the best seat in the house to watch Coach put on that mascot head each week.”

Corso is a member of the athletic Halls of Fame at Florida State, Louisville and Indiana, in addition to the state of Florida Sports Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2006, he received the Florida State Alumni Association’s Gold Medal, the university’s highest alumni honor, and in 2010 the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) honored him with the Contributions to College Football Award in recognition of his lifetime of achievement and integrity in the sport. Last fall when GameDay traveled to Bloomington, Ind., the mayor proclaimed it “Coach Lee Corso Day” in his honor as friends, family members, former players and coaches returned to campus.

“Lee is the quintessential entertainer, but he was also a remarkable coach who established lifelong connections with his players,” said Rece Davis, host of College GameDay and a teammate of Corso’s since 2015. “When GameDay went to Indiana last season, the love and emotion that poured out from his players was truly moving. It was also unsurprising. Every week, Lee asks about our families. He asks for specifics. He celebrates success and moments, big and small, with all of us on the set. He’s relentless in his encouragement. That’s what a great coach, and friend, does. Lee has made it his life’s work to bring joy to others on the field and on television. He succeeded.”

When College GameDay kicks off Week 1 of the 2025 season on Aug. 30, the three-hour show (9 a.m. — noon ET, ESPN & ESPNU) will honor and celebrate Corso’s historic career in addition to previewing all the day’s big games. Show details will be announced in the coming months.

Additional details about College GameDay’s 2025 road shows, talent roster and how the show will approach its final segment each week once Corso retires will be announced closer to the start of the college football season.

Lee Corso on ESPN’s College GameDay — By the Numbers:

• 430 mascot headgear selections all-time
  • 286-144 record all-time (.665 win pct.)
• Corso has donned the headgear of 69 different teams all-time
• Most headgear selections by team:
  • Ohio State – 45
  • Alabama – 38
  • LSU – 25
  • Florida – 22
  • Oregon – 21

• Milestone headgear picks for Corso:
  • 1st: Oct. 5, 1996 – Ohio State (over Penn State) *
  • 100th: Sept. 17, 2005 – Florida State (over Boston College) *
  • 200th: Oct. 22, 2011 – Wisconsin (over Michigan State)
  • 300th: Oct. 7, 2017 – TCU (over West Virginia) *
  • 400th: Sept. 16, 2023 – Colorado (over Colorado State) *

* Correct picks

Fun Facts:

• College GameDay has originated from the Army-Navy game nine times. A former Navy assistant coach (1966-68), Corso has never picked against the Midshipmen.
• There are only three teams that Corso has picked multiple times and never lost: USC (17-0), Virginia Tech (4-0) and North Dakota State (3-0).
• Corso went a perfect 11-0 on his headgear picks in 1999, his most wins without a loss in a single season since he began the tradition on the show.

Usually the graphics of NFL Live, ESPN’s daily NFL studio show, showcase teams from around the league or topics that host Laura Rutledge or analysts such as Dan Orlovsky, Ryan Clark, Mina Kimes, or Marcus Spears are discussing.

But on Wednesday’s episode, the graphics were a bit different.

On yesterday’s episode, Orlovsky’s 13-year-old son, Madden, who is autistic, created graphics for NFL Live in celebration of World Autism Awareness Day. The graphics were made up of Madden’s drawings, which led to a full episode of beautiful moments on the ESPN broadcast.

It’s a special edition of NFL Live today as @danorlovsky7‘s son, Madden, has his drawings on display throughout the studio to honor World Autism Awareness Day

Way to go, Madden! pic.twitter.com/VI958WTJfx

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 2, 2025

“We got in the car yesterday and he has a piece of paper where all the emotions were drawn and I said, ‘Hey, how did you feel today?’ And he pointed to happy. And then I said, ‘When you saw your drawings, how did you feel?’ And he pointed to proud,” Orlovsky said. “I was telling people yesterday that the time we were in studio was the most present he’s been in a long time. That’s not to say he’s not present. He’s a great kid, but the most like locked in present… just pure happiness.”

The idea to use Madden’s drawings was the brainchild of Tim Farrell, the director of NFL Live, who came to Orlovsky last year with the idea.

“Last June, Dan tweeted out a video of a storyboard that his son had created. It was a drawing of the first time Woody and Buzz meet in Toy Story, and his tweet said, ‘Autism is his superpower. What’s yours?’ Having a connection with autism in my family, it just kind of resonated with me,” Farrell said. “The best way I can describe it is that a lightbulb moment occurred and I thought, ‘Wait, what if we had him design our entire studio?’ He could do it for World Autism Awareness Day and use it to celebrate the superpowers that people with autism bring to world.”

Ferrell added that it’s a “moment that will stay with me for my entire career.”

One moment, in particular, stood out. That was when Madden and his father sang a duet to the iconic “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the Pixar animated classic.

“It was a moment when all the other things in life, which sometimes get in the way, didn’t,” Orlovsky said. “I told my wife, all the years of driving to a speech therapist, occupational therapist, a behavior therapist, all the people that have impacted Madden’s life, all the decisions, all the long moments, it was all encapsulated in that… He was so flawlessly presenting it, unashamed, totally in the moment. You see every emotion you could imagine all wrapped up into one.”

@danorlovsky7‘s son, Madden, helped create graphics for NFL Live in honor of World Autism Awareness Day.

Our crew reacts to this beautiful moment pic.twitter.com/YtBsWw2gbJ

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 3, 2025

Farrell feels that this moment can help those in the autistic community and beyond.

“They each have their own superpower and it’s moments like this that they can show it off,” he said. “I hope that this inspires more autistic kids to show the world what their superpower is.”

As for Orlovsky, the moment was one of celebration for his family as well as for his community at ESPN.

“I think it highlighted the people behind the scenes at ESPN that have great visions and great hearts and are great people. It was also about being a part of a team. Madden doesn’t get there without a great team behind him. My wife, his siblings, all the teachers that he’s had,” he said. “And yesterday most definitely doesn’t happen without the team at ESPN.”

ESPN, Disney+, and Skydance Sports today announced the development of an upcoming ESPN Original Series on the Kansas City Chiefs. Produced by Words + Pictures in association with Skydance Sports, NFL Films, 2PM Productions, and Foolish Club Studios, the six-episode docuseries is expected to premiere later this year on ESPN and Disney+ and will explore the franchise’s indelible and distinctive place in the NFL’s landscape for over more than six decades of history while offering an exclusive, revealing chronicle of the team’s extraordinary 2024 season. The docuseries is directed by Kristen Lappas of Words + Pictures (Giannis: The Marvelous Journey, Full Court Press, Dream On) and produced by much of the team behind The Last Dance (including executive producers Connor Schell, Jason Hehir, Libby Geist and Aaron Cohen, and showrunner Matt Maxson).

“ESPN and Disney+ know that sports fans are interested in stories that take them beyond the X’s and O’s, and this series will explore the legacy of the Chiefs franchise while also showcasing the emotional highs and lows of building a championship-winning team,” said Burke Magnus, president of content, ESPN. “From the brilliance of Patrick Mahomes to the leadership of Andy Reid and the passion of Chiefs Kingdom, this project will showcase the drama, intensity, and heart that make this team a global phenomenon.”

The original documentary series – which was filmed over the course of the 2024 season and includes unprecedented access into the players’ lives on and off the field – details the Chiefs’ journey as the club completed a franchise-record 15-win regular season, captured a third-consecutive Lamar Hunt Trophy as AFC champions, and made a third-straight Super Bowl appearance in New Orleans. The remarkable run builds upon nearly a decade of tremendous success, during which the team made the playoffs every year (2015-24), won the AFC West Division title nine years running (2016-24), appeared in the AFC Championship Game seven years in a row (2018-24), and ultimately made five Super Bowl appearances over the past six years, raising the hallowed Vince Lombardi Trophy three times.

“No team in sports has been more captivating over the last decade than the Kansas City Chiefs. To get the chance to go behind-the-scenes of the team’s modern-day dynasty with its signature stars, and weave that story together with the Chiefs’ history and incomparable legacy of Lamar Hunt, whose imprint on the club and the league is still felt every Sunday, is a remarkable opportunity,” said Connor Schell, executive producer and founder of Words + Pictures. “We’re so excited to be working with ESPN, Skydance Sports, 2PM Productions and everyone at the Chiefs organization on this series.”

Told through the lens of current-day players, coaches, and executive leaders, following them both on and off the field all season long, the series will also weave together tales of the team’s long and celebrated history, its proud culture, as well as the Chiefs’ deeply ingrained place in the Kansas City community and the wider sports landscape.

Along the way, the series will spotlight the 65-year history of the Chiefs franchise dating back to its earliest days in Dallas, Texas, when the team was founded by the legendary sports innovator Lamar Hunt. It will explore the many highs and lows of the club’s iconic path to modern-day dynasty, detailed by countless untold stories and behind-the-scenes moments that have shaped its legacy. With exclusive access to the organization’s extensive and rarely seen photo and video archives, coupled with intimate interviews with players, coaches, and other key figures, the series will offer a fascinating look at the team’s long path to the pinnacle of the sports world.

On the heels of the successful launch of a new daily sports show, SC+, exclusively on Disney+, we spoke with hosts Gary Striewski and Randy Scott about all the hype, their day jobs and making a daily show that resonates with every kind of sports fan. “It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s everything you love about SportsCenter — but built for streaming,” Scott said.

SC+ just launched exclusively on Disney+ last week. How’s it going? SCOTT: We love it! The energy on the set is incredible and the feedback we’re hearing from fans has been great. It’s still early days but we’re having fun with it.

The show is the latest extension of the iconic, multiplatform SportsCenter brand that’s been on ESPN since the network launched in 1979. How is this a natural evolution of the brand and why Disney+?STRIEWSKI: For over 40 years, SportsCenter has been the go-to destination for sports fans, delivering highlights, analysis, and breaking news across multiple platforms. We wanted to take that brand halo and create a daily touchpoint for sports on Disney+. Who doesn’t want their daily sports news in a fast-paced, streamlined format that they can watch wherever and whenever they want?

9 a.m. ET live? Absolutely.
11:45 a.m. during someone’s lunch break? No problem. (But don’t tell the bosses.)
7:26 p.m. before calling it a night? For sure.

You both already anchor the 7 a.m. ET SportsCenter on ESPN. In what ways is SC+ tailored for a streaming audience?SCOTT: We constantly hear from fans how much they love the “Top 10” on SportsCenter, so SC+ is built around the most buzzworthy and engaging sports moments right from the start. Unlike our traditional SportsCenter show, SC+ is built for the casual sports fan and everything in between — the show is more direct, dynamic, and digestible.

The show streams live 7 days a week on Disney+ and ranges from 15 to 30 minutes. It’s important to us that fans get everything they need quickly, while still having the ability to watch on demand when it works for them.

But… if you like interruptions, this is not the show for you — because there aren’t any. It’s the opposite of a close game with two minutes left in the fourth quarter and both teams holding all their timeouts. The time flies on this show. If it were any more condensed, it would come in a can labeled “milk.” Yet, at the same time, it’s as thorough and comprehensive as only SportsCenter can be.

How does SC+ appeal to both diehard and casual sports fans?STRIEWSKI: The beauty of SC+ is that it’s built for every type of sports fan.

For diehards, it delivers must-see highlights, key plays, and breaking news in a fast, dynamic way — everything they need in just 30 minutes or less. For casual fans, it’s an easy, daily way to stay informed — whether they watch live, catch up on demand, or just tune in for the biggest moments.

And while the format is designed for a streaming audience, what hasn’t changed is what makes SportsCenter special. There still isn’t another show — not named SportsCenter — that curates the most important highlights and stories from across sports and delivers them in a perfectly digestible package the way ESPN does. That’s what SC+ also does, just in a new way.

At the end of the day, we get the privilege of telling fans what’s important in sports each day — and no one does that better.

Why is Disney+ the perfect platform for SC+?SCOTT: Not only is Disney+ one of the largest streaming platforms in the world, with a massive built-in audience, but those subscribers are already watching and engaging with ESPN content in the app so we knew there was an appetite for it. It also aligns with the way younger audiences consume content — on demand, quick-hit, and highly engaging.

• Sports news, insights and exclusive commentary will stream daily for all U.S. Disney+ subscribers
• Gary Striewski and Randy Scott to host weekdays at 9 a.m. ET, Hannah Storm and Jay Harris on weekends

ESPN will launch a brand new daily SportsCenter show, SC+, on Monday, March 3, exclusively on Disney+. The fast-paced update will highlight each day’s top sports moments, stories, insights and exclusive commentary in a more concise and streamlined format.

SC+ will be built around the highly popular “SC Top 10” daily countdown of sports moments. The program will deliver the most important sports news stories of the day, complemented by insights from ESPN’s top insiders and reporters.

SC+ is the latest extension of the iconic multiplatform SportsCenter brand that debuted with ESPN’s original network launch on September 7, 1979, and has been trusted by sports fans for over 45 years.

“It’s an absolute honor to take one of ESPN’s most-prestigious and historic brands in SportsCenter and infuse it with the energy and creativity afforded by Disney+,” said Mike Foss, Senior Vice President, Studio & Entertainment. “SC+ endeavors to tell the best stories in sports daily in an unforgettable way. This fresh approach, combined with the expansive reach of Disney+, will resonate whether you are an ardent sports fan or looking for something new after your latest series binge.”

“ESPN has long defined excellence in sports programming, and now Disney+ subscribers will have daily access to the most exciting sports news, moments, and stories,” said Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+.

The show will be streamed live weekday mornings at 9 a.m. ET with each day’s edition available on demand on Disney+ for 24 hours. Gary Striewski and Randy Scott will host the weekday editions of SC+ and also continue to anchor the 7 a.m. ET SportsCenter on ESPN. On weekends, Hannah Storm and Jay Harris will host SC+ following their SportsCenter:AM program on ESPN, delivering a fresh and engaging look at the day’s top sports moments.

With the addition of this daily show, Disney+ standalone subscribers will continue to have access to a curated selection of content from ESPN+ and Hulu including live sports events, studio shows, ESPN Originals, TV series and films — all in one place. Subscribers to the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ bundle can view the full ESPN+ content offering, including more than 30,000 live sports events yearly and a library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content and studio programming.

• Audience Surpasses Every NFL Game — Regular Season or Playoffs — on ESPN Dating Back to 1987
• ESPN Delivers 4% Year-Over-Year Increase From Last Season’s Divisional Presentation
• Across All Networks, NFL’s Best Viewership for a Divisional Saturday Afternoon Kickoff in 10 Seasons
• Third Consecutive Season ESPN Punctuates Season-Long NFL Campaign with Its Most-Watched NFL Game Ever
• Postseason NFL Countdown Draws Nearly Five Million Viewers, Up 4% Year-Over-Year

ESPN’s 2025 NFL Divisional Round presentation delivered a record-breaking audience across ESPN platforms, as the Houston Texans at the Kansas City Chiefs (Saturday, Jan. 18, 4:30 p.m. ET) is the company’s most-watched NFL game of all-time. The 33.8 million viewers surpass each NFL on ESPN game, playoffs and regular season, since 1987 (38 seasons), the network’s first year airing NFL games. ESPN’s Texans at Chiefs Divisional matchup aired on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, and NFL+.

Additional ESPN’s Texans-Chiefs Viewership Highlights:

• ESPN Up Year-Over-Year: ESPN bested its own audience from the 2024 Divisional Round (Texans at Ravens) with a 4% audience increase, which was also played on the same day and time slot, and earned a then-record audience of 32.3 million viewers.
• NFL’s Best Divisional Saturday Afternoon Viewership in 10 Seasons: ESPN’s Texans-Chiefs viewership is the NFL’s top audience for a Divisional Saturday afternoon (4:30 p.m. kickoff) in 10 seasons, beginning in January 2016 to present, across all networks.
• ESPN Delivers Saturday’s Top Peak Audience Across All Networks: ESPN’s audience peaked at 39.5 million viewers (7-7:15 p.m.), the highest peak audience of any network on Saturday, Jan. 18.
• Disney’s Most-Watched Non-Super Bowl NFL Game: ESPN’s Texans-Chiefs’ 33.8 million viewers marks Disney’s most-watched NFL game, excluding Super Bowls.
  • The audience bested all 25 Disney NFL Playoff games in the previous 29 years, including 14 exclusively on ABC (1996-2005), ten available on ABC and ESPN (2016-24) and one solely on ESPN (2015).
  • The game also surpassed every regular season game exclusively on ABC since 1996.

Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters Era Deliver ESPN’s Most-Watched Games
ESPN re-writing its own record books has become a modern trend, as each season of the Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters era (2022-23, 23-24, and 24-25 seasons) has concluded with ESPN airing its most-watched game of all-time. In that same period, accounting for all games in regular season and postseason, ESPN has aired seven of its eight most-watched games.

ESPN’s Most-Watched NFL Games Ever, Dating Back to 1987

All ESPN-produced games. All games aired on, at least, ESPN and ABC, except Christmas Day game which was only on ABC. Viewership above does not include ESPN Deportes for historical purposesPostseason NFL Countdown Draws Nearly Five Million Viewers Leading Into the Game, Up 4% Year-Over-YearPostseason NFL Countdown aired on ABC and ESPN and drew nearly five million viewers for the 2+ hour pregame show (2-4:15 p.m.). The 4.9 million viewers represent an audience increase year-over-year for the show, which aired in the same time slot and on the same networks last season leading into the Texans and Ravens.

The show featured the Monday Night Countdown crew: Scott Van Pelt with Ryan Clark, Jason Kelce, Marcus Spears, Michelle Beisner-Buck and Adam Schefter, who were joined by guest analyst and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. For the regular season, Monday Night Countdown was up 5% year-over-year.

Record Breaking Playoff Viewership Adds to ESPN’s Strong 2024-25 Season
ESPN’s record-breaking playoff viewership concludes the company’s 2024-25 season which delivered Monday Night Football’s second most-watched season in the ESPN era, joining the 2023 campaign as the two most-watched MNF seasons (2006 — present). This season, Monday Night Football averaged 15 million viewers a game and reached 112 million fans along the way.

Perhaps nothing in sports exemplified ESPN’s extraordinary 2024 better than how women’s sports experienced an unprecedented surge in viewership and engagement across Disney platforms. Highlighted by the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game between Iowa and South Carolina (a record-setting 18.9 million viewers), women’s college basketball was a juggernaut all season long.

The WNBA also experienced its most successful season in 25 years, with Caitlin Clark’s professional debut attracting 2.1 million viewers, the largest audience ever for a regular-season game. The WNBA All-Star Game shattered previous records with 3.4 million viewers, while the Finals between Minnesota and New York delivered the highest viewership since 1999.

“I cannot say enough about the total team effort by everyone at ESPN in making 2024 such a historic year,” Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN, said. “Our creativity and unrelenting service to sports fans will continue in 2025 with the early fall launch of our flagship direct-to-consumer product.”

Here’s a look back at many of the successes that made ESPN’s 2024 one of the most remarkable in the brand’s 45 year history.

In December, ESPN on Disney+ was launched, giving Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle subscribers access to ESPN+ content directly in the app. Disney+ standalone subscribers also have access to a sample of select ESPN+ content.

ESPN’s commitment to its digital future continued to flourish, with ESPN Digital reaching two-thirds of all U.S. adults monthly and maintaining its position as the No. 1 sports destination for 32 consecutive months. ESPN+ expanded its offering to more than 34,000 live events and delivered its most-watched event ever with the NFL AFC divisional playoff game between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.

Monday Night Football demonstrated its enduring appeal by achieving its highest viewership in 23 years, while reaching 124 million fans throughout the season. The NFL connection grew stronger as ESPN welcomed legendary coach Bill Belichick and Super Bowl champion Jason Kelce to its talent roster, joining Nick Saban and Shams Charania as celebrated and valuable new additions.

Innovation in storytelling took new forms in 2024, including continuation of the groundbreaking NHL Big City Greens Classic 2 animated broadcast and the first-ever Simpsons Funday Football alternate MNF telecast. ESPN closed the year with Christmas Day’s Dunk the Halls, bringing real-time animation to an NBA game using cutting-edge technology.

ESPN continues to lead in fantasy sports, with Fantasy Football attracting more than 13 million players this season. The March Madness Tournament Challenge set new records with 22.6 million completed brackets for the men’s tournament and 3.3 million for the women’s tournament — up 56% from last year.

The brand’s studio shows maintained their dominance, with College GameDay posting its most-watched season ever and SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt leading as the most-watched daily sports news show across key demographics. The Pat McAfee Show’s first full year on ESPN showed robust growth, while First Take and Get Up achieved record viewership months.

The ESPN brand remains unmatched in sports media, ranking as the No. 1 brand for following sports — higher than the next 16 competitors combined. Among adults 13-64, 86% are familiar with ESPN for following sports, and 74% express positive affinity for the brand.

Looking to the future, ESPN and Disney secured several landmark agreements that will shape sports media for years to come.

A new 11-year extension with the NBA and WNBAensures ESPN will remain the primary partner for both leagues through the mid-2030s. ESPN also extended its relationship with the US Open tennis tournament through 2037, renewed College Football Playoff rights through the 2031-32 season, and further ensconced itself in college sports with an eight-year, comprehensive NCAA extension.

As we continue to look ahead, ESPN’s position as the standard-bearer in sports media continues to strengthen, powered by technological innovation, compelling storytelling, and an unwavering commitment to serving sports fans everywhere.

Whether through traditional broadcasts, streaming platforms (like the aforementioned flagship direct-to-consumer product), or new interactive experiences, ESPN remains at the forefront of sports media evolution, bringing fans ever closer to the games and stories they love.

For ESPN’s full Year in Review for 2024, head over to ESPN Press Room.

This December, ESPN is giving fans the opportunity to experience both an NFL game and an NBA game in a unique, animated fashion — as only The Walt Disney Company can do.

First, on December 9, ESPN will offer three distinctly different viewing options across six platforms for Monday Night Football’s Week 14 matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys. ESPN, Disney, The Simpsons, and the National Football League will present The Simpsons Funday Football — an animated Monday Night Football game transformed in real-time into the Simpsons world using Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology.

“We do a number of alt-casts at ESPN, and this is the best example of us expanding our audience by reaching beyond the typical sports fan,” Phil Orlins, Vice President, Production, ESPN, says. “It offers us an opportunity — as it’s done before with the NHL Big City Greens Classic and Toy Story Funday Football — to appeal to children as co-viewers with their parents, and now teens, in the case of The Simpsons. It’s a best-case scenario to reach a different audience for ESPN.”

Then, on Christmas Day, Disney, ESPN, and the NBA will team up to present Dunk the Halls — the first real-time animated NBA game using Sony’s Beyond Sports technology, and the first NBA game to stream on Disney+. The alt-cast will be presented on ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+, with the New York Knicks hosting the San Antonio Spurs at noon ET/9 a.m. PT. All five NBA Christmas games will also be available on ABC, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN+.

By utilizing IP from across The Walt Disney Company in its immersive, innovative alt-casts of NBA, NFL, and NHL games, ESPN has been able engage with casual and diehard sports fans alike — while also welcoming new fans who feel a stronger connection to the IP. The NHL Big City Greens Classic was ESPN’s first alt-cast to combine animation with optical tracking technology, and it was a hit with fans from every demo. This month’s alt-casts should be even more spectacular.

“The technology is improving at an incredibly rapid pace,” Orlins says. “Something that was inconceivable five years ago became the first Big City Greens alt-cast, and it’s only gotten better since then.” Beyond Sports makes it possible to combine two data sources and quickly analyze, validate, enhance, and translate to a 3D environment, and then stream to a desired platform in real-time. Plus, Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking creates dynamic player and character movement.

“We have this vivid ability to recreate the actual game action in close to real-time,” he says. “It gets better and better each time we do it — and now, we’re able to show the detailed movements of the players’ limbs, joints, and so forth.”

The Simpsons Funday Football

Thanks to such technological advances, The Simpsons Funday Football is more seamless than ever. Just as Disney Television Animation did for the NHL Big City Greens Classic and Pixar Animation Studios did for Toy Story Funday Football, TheSimpsons creators worked closely with ESPN and the NFL on the presentation’s look, sound, and feel to ensure the spirit of the hit series remains intact.

“The participation of The Simpsons creative team is really prevalent in every aspect of this telecast,” Orlins says. “There will be endless jokes that we collaborated on with the team.”

Outside of the live game, The Simpsons producers wrote original content for the telecast that will be utilized before, during, and after the game. Animated segments incorporating ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and others will appear in the telecast, with their segments also written in collaboration with The Simpsons creators. Players from both teams will have pre-recorded segments that include interactions with Simpsons characters.

With Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as the setting, The Simpsons Funday Football will feature Homer Simpson as a Cowboys player and Bart Simpson as a Bengals player. Each will select key moments to play offense and/or defense, replacing a player and joining their fellow teammates on the field. Meanwhile, Marge Simpson and Lisa Simpson will interview players during the game, while Maggie Simpson will fly the SkyCam. Additional characters, references, and more will bring a real Sunday-night-with-the-Simpsons feel to Monday Night Football. “Homer and Bart will make terrible or great plays,” Orlins teases, “depending on the how the game unfolds.”

The Simpsons Funday Football alternate viewing presentation will stream on Disney+ and ESPN+, and, on mobile, with NFL+. The traditional Monday Night Football telecast will be available on ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes, with Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli airing on ESPN2. Both the traditional telecast and Monday Night Football withPeyton and Eli will stream on ESPN+, with each presentation available in the ESPN app. Telecasts will start at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Dunk the Halls

Dunk the Halls will begin with Mickey asking Santa Claus to bring the NBA players to Main Street, USA, to play the first NBA game at Magic Kingdom Park on Christmas Day. His wish is granted, and he joins Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy, and Chip and Dale in cheering on the teams at Walt Disney World Resort during the virtual, live re-creation of the game.

Dunk the Halls will feature other famous Magic Kingdom Park landmarks, such as Cinderella Castle. And at halftime, characters will compete in a slam dunk contest. Adding to the magic, Santa’s Elves will operate the cameras, while Santa himself will operate ESPN’s SkyCam during the game. Disney characters will deliver pregame and halftime speeches to the players and also decorate a large Christmas tree during the game.

“The history of the Disney characters is second to none,” Orlin says. “We’re always looking to find the right collaboration with the most exceptional IP, and this was so perfect. Main Street, USA, and the Disney characters felt like they’d fit with the NBA on Christmas Day.”

Through state-of-the-art real-time visualization technology enabled by Beyond Sports, combined with Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking, fans watching Dunk the Halls will see every three-pointer, dunk, layup, and pass, from the real-life game at Madison Square Garden in New York, with each player appearing as a motion-enabled, animated character.

Drew Carter will serve as the play-by-play commentator alongside ESPN basketball analyst Monica McNutt and will be joined by Daisy Duck, who will serve as the sideline reporter. Carter and McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast and wear ESPN Edge Innovation Partner’s Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA, utilizing VR technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports’ Virtual Commentator Technology.

Orlins says it’s “mind-boggling” to see the artistry and technology work in tandem, in real-time, during a broadcast like Dunk the Halls. “It’s really, really hard to get your brain around,” he explains. “Even before 2020, to accomplish this would’ve been unimaginable.”

The Future of ESPN’s Alt-Casts

ESPN’s investment in alternate presentations such as The Simpsons Funday Football and Dunk the Halls underscores how The Walt Disney Company is constantly adapting to meet audiences where they are — while also offering something exceptional and unexpected.

“Part of what makes this exciting and interesting to people is that it involves some sort of IP that they already have an interest in, and therefore it makes them curious to experience it and see what it will be like,” Orlins says. “Because of Disney, we at ESPN are incredibly fortunate to create these opportunities for them.”

The results speak for themselves, as past animated alt-casts have not only entertained audiences but also increased overall interest in regular broadcasts of ESPN sporting games.

“In an era where it’s increasingly difficult to get young people to sit and watch sports games in their entirety, we’re now offering a way to see a sports event in a different way — one that may appeal to people before they reach the age where they might want to watch ESPN. It’s just invaluable,” Orlin says. “I also think there’s a real possibility that there is a group of people who will develop a relationship with a sport that they otherwise would not experience. An interest and a curiosity develops from that.”

It’s the kind of magic that only Disney can create.

“We have the best set of assets to do this better than anybody else,” Orlins says. “The strength of the Disney IP is essential; the rights that ESPN holds with the major sports leagues is essential; and the willingness of ESPN to take on the production of the alt-casts is essential. The ability to distribute these on Disney-owned platforms is extraordinary. To have access to Disney+ is extremely important for their success — and for ESPN’s growth.”

Building on the successful launch of Hulu on Disney+ and Star+ on Disney+ in Latin America, Disney+ today is launching a brand new ESPN tile and hub, serving as a destination for ESPN+ streaming sports content and giving subscribers access to sports, general entertainment, and kids and family programming, all within a single app.Subscribers to the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle in the U.S. will be able to enjoy a seamlessly integrated viewing experience throughout the Disney+ app with the kind of offering that only The Walt Disney Company can deliver.

“This launch really puts a cherry on top of a fantastic year of innovation at Disney+,” Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+, said. “Earlier in the year, we made Hulu available in the Disney+ app, and now we’re doing the same for ESPN+. This gives our bundle subscribers one place to consume everything they love from all our brands.”And fans will be able to experience the difference right away. John Lasker, Senior Vice President of ESPN+ explains, “In the first 90 days, bundle subscribers should expect 5,000 live events, including NFL, NBA, NHL, College Basketball, and Australian Open. Also, new originals from and ESPN Original Series.”

In total, ESPN+ offers access to more than 30,000 live sports events each year, which also includes games and events from MLB, WNBA, college sports, tennis, golf, and more, plus a library of on-demand replays and acclaimed original content and studio programming that will now be available through Disney+ to eligible bundle subscribers. Today’s launch also adds something new for Disney+ standalone subscribers: a taste of the newly unified experience, featuring Hulu and ESPN+.“One of the things I’m most excited about with this launch is that we’re also making the ESPN and Hulu tiles visible to all subscribers,” Bowen said. “That means, for our Disney+ standalone subscribers, they’ll have a really easy way to discover everything we offer from these two incredible brands, and have the ability to upgrade their subscription for the full bundle experience.”Standalone Disney+ subscribers will have access to a curated selection of live sports events, studio shows, and ESPN Films from ESPN+, as well as a select collection of TV series and films from Hulu. From ESPN+, this includes some exciting and unique events in the coming weeks, such as “The Simpsons Funday Football” animated Monday Night Football game, a Christmas Day lineup of five NBA games plus the “Dunk The Halls” animated NBA presentation, select 30 For 30 documentaries, and Day 1 coverage from the Australian Open. And from Hulu, standalone Disney+ subscribers will be able to enjoy groundbreaking movies and series at launch, including Shōgun, , Solar Opposites, Reservation Dogs, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and more.

While the launch of ESPN on Disney+ will have an immediate impact on the Disney+ experience, it also lays the groundwork for an expanded sports offering on Disney+ in the U.S. upon the launch of ESPN’s flagship direct-to-consumer product, expected in Fall of 2025.“There’s nothing like live sports,” Lasker added. “Live sports are storytelling in real time. They’re community, they bring people together for shared experiences that last lifetimes and generations. ESPN’s unrivaled portfolio of live rights will deliver for sports fans on Disney+.”Click here to get a look at new programming available to Disney+

Future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce is becoming a quarterback of late-night sports entertainment television with They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce on ESPN. Airing on Friday nights/early Saturday mornings, the new personality-driven, one-hour program will take its inspiration from traditional late-night television, emphasizing a comedic approach throughout all five scheduled episodes which run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs.

ESPN will televise the Jason Kelce-fronted show, beginning the night and morning of January 3 and January 4, with each episode also available on ESPN+, ESPN YouTube and the Jason Kelce channel on YouTube presented by ESPN. Replays will air on ESPN2. NFL Films will produce the show in conjunction with Kelce’s Wooderboy Productions and Skydance Sports.

They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce will be an immersive experience from Union Transfer in Philadelphia, showcasing the Super Bowl champion’s oversized personality and infectious humor mixed with celebrity guests from the football world and beyond, in front of a live audience of NFL fans. The show’s format will position Kelce and his guests to dissect NFL topics and storylines, mainly focused on that weekend’s games, in both conventional and good-humoredly unconventional approaches including active participation from the fans in attendance.

The atmosphere inside Union Transfer will bring the Kelce experience to life, amplified by live music from SNACKTIME, Philadelphia’s own beloved band with soul, funk, hip hop, and rock influences. Each show will be taped on Friday evening, mere hours prior to airing.

The five-episode run will premiere hours prior to the NFL’s regular season finale (Week 18) and have consecutive weekly airdates leading into Super Wild Card, Divisional and Conference Championship weekends before the finale ahead of the Pro Bowl Games and nine days from Super Bowl LIX. Kelce officially announced the show on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, Nov. 21.

A Name Rooted in History
They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce derives its name from They Call it Pro Football, NFL Films’ first full-length film (1967), representing Kelce’s subtle tribute to the sport and the company which will now produce his own show more than 55 years later. The original NFL Films production was given the prestigious honor of being selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2012, having been highly recognized and credited with how football and sports were showcased on television following its creation.

Multiplatform Show Debuts on ESPN, Available on ESPN+ and ESPN YouTube
ESPN will air the program at 1 a.m. ET, with the fifth episode beginning at 1:30 a.m. The show will be available on ESPN+, ESPN YouTube, and the Jason Kelce channel on YouTube presented by ESPN following its initial ESPN airing and then will re-air on ESPN2 on Saturday mornings, ahead of the NFL slate. Clips of the show will be actively pushed across social media platforms in real time and the hours following its airing, including on ESPN and Wooderboy handles.

ESPN Premiere Information
They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce will be taped on Friday evenings, a few hours before each airing

Attending They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce
Tickets for each show will be free and available through 1iota beginning in December. More details on the process will be released by 1iota in the coming weeks, including on its Instagram page.

Animated Game Airs Live at Noon ET on ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+; Traditional Game Presentation on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ and ESPN+

Virtual Presentation of Game Set in Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World® Resort to Feature Iconic Disney Characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Plus Santa Claus and Elves from ‘Prep and Landing’ 

ESPN Collaborates with Sony’s Beyond Sports for First-Ever Animated Presentation of NBA Game

Disney, ESPN and the NBA are teaming up to present Dunk the Halls — the first real-time animated NBA game using Sony’s Beyond Sports technology — on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, at noon ET when the New York Knicks — led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — host the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul. Dunk the Halls will be presented on ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+. The special alt-cast marks the first animated presentation of an NBA game and the first NBA game to stream on Disney+.

The setting

The virtual, live re-creation of the Spurs vs. Knicks game will be set on iconic “Main Street, USA” in Magic Kingdom® Park as the teams play while Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy and Chip and Dale cheer them on. Shots of “Main Street, USA” and other famous landmarks within Magic Kingdom® Park will be regularly shown, including Cinderella’s Castle.

The story

The storyline behind the Dunk the Halls presentation begins with Mickey’s Christmas wish to Santa Claus to bring the NBA players to “Main Street, USA” at Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World Resort to play the first animated NBA game on Christmas Day.

The first-of-its-kind technology

Each Spurs and Knicks player will appear as a motion-enabled, animated player for the special Christmas matchup. Through state-of-the-art real-time visualization technology enabled by Sony’s Beyond Sports, combined with Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking, fans watching Dunk the Halls will see every three-pointer, dunk, layup, pass and more from the real-life Spurs vs. Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in New York as it happens.

More production highlights:

• At halftime of the Spurs vs. Knicks game, the Disney characters, led by Mickey Mouse, will compete in a special slam dunk contest;
• Santa’s Elves will operate the cameras for the game while Santa himself will operate ESPN’s “SkyCam” during the game;
• The Disney characters will deliver pregame and halftime speeches to the players and decorate a large Christmas tree during the game;
• Fans will also get to find out if it will snow on “Main Street, USA” and see how many churros Goofy can eat.

ESPN commentators

Drew Carter will serve as the play-by-play commentator alongside ESPN basketball analyst Monica McNutt. The duo will be joined by a very special guest — Daisy Duck — who will serve as the sideline reporter. Carter and McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast and don ESPN Edge Innovation Partner’s Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from “Main Street, USA” thanks to VR technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports’ Virtual Commentator Technology.

All five NBA Christmas games on December 25 will be available on ABC, ESPN, Disney+ and ESPN+. The traditional broadcast of the Spurs vs. Knicks game will be called by Ryan Ruocco, analyst Cory Alexander, and reporter Cassidy Hubbarth. For more details on the schedule, visit ESPNPressRoom.com.

Dunk the Halls continues ESPN and the NBA’s well-documented history innovation, including alt-cast executions that utilize the unmatched depth and scope of The Walt Disney Company. In 2021, ESPN and the NBA teamed up with Marvel for “Marvel’s Arena of Heroes,” — an alt-cast of an NBA regular-season game. TWDC.com: ESPN and Marvel Debut First-Ever Marvel-Inspired NBA Special Edition.

ESPN recently announced it will produce an animated, real-time alt-cast for Monday Night Football on December 9 called The Simpsons Funday Football, streaming on Disney+ and ESPN+. For more information, visit ESPNPressRoom.com.

ESPN, in partnership with TNT Sports and the National Basketball Association, announced today that it will exclusively present the iconic Inside the NBA studio show on its platforms starting with the 2025-26 regular season — the first season in ESPN and the NBA’s landmark 11-year rights extension, announced in July. TNT Sports will continue to independently produce Inside the NBA from its Atlanta-based studios over the term of the agreement.

The legendary Inside the NBA studio team will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including ESPN’s pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs, all ABC games after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events.

Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN:

“Inside the NBA is universally recognized as one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports. We have long-admired the immensely talented team and are thrilled to add their chemistry and knowledge to our robust set of NBA studio offerings to super-serve NBA fans like never before. The addition of Inside the NBA further solidifies ESPN as the preeminent destination for sports fans.”

Luis Silberwasser, CEO & Chairman, TNT Sports:

“At TNT Sports, we take great pride in our Inside the NBA show and know its success is both a reflection of the iconic talent on set and the incredible people behind the scenes who consistently demonstrate the creativity and craft of our great team. We are thrilled to continue to produce Inside the NBA for ESPN and ABC, ensuring fans are able to keep enjoying the magic of this show during the NBA season.”

As part of this creative partnership, which builds on the existing agreement between ESPN and TNT Sports to present the College Football Playoffs, TNT Sports will now televise an exclusive slate of Big 12 football and men’s basketball games starting with the 2025 season.

ESPN will continue to produce NBA Countdown and NBA Today as both franchises will remain integral parts of ESPN’s NBA coverage offerings. Malika Andrews hosts both shows with a team of industry-leading analysts and reporters, including Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins, Richard Jefferson, Chiney Ogwumike, Bob Myers, Shams Charania, Brian Windhorst, Ramona Shelburne, and more.

TNT’s Inside the NBA made its debut during the 1989-90 NBA regular season. It has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards and in 2020 was recognized by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award.

ESPN, Disney, TheSimpsons, and the National Football League will premiere The Simpsons Funday Football on Monday, December 9, an animated Monday Night Football game transformed in real-time into the iconic Simpsons world using Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology. Atoms Stadium in Springfield will host the fully immersive fan viewing experience featuring the Cincinnati Bengals at the Dallas Cowboys, ESPN’s Monday Night Football game that evening.

The Simpsons Funday Football alternate viewing presentation will stream on Disney+ and ESPN+, and, on mobile, with NFL+. The traditional Monday Night Football telecast will be available on ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes, with Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli on ESPN2. Both the traditional telecast and Peyton and Eli will also be on ESPN+, making each distinct presentation available in the ESPN App. All telecasts will begin at 8 p.m. ET.

Internationally, the special presentation will be available on linear or streaming in more than 145 markets live and/or via replay. Among those, all Latin America including Mexico and Brazil, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, Netherlands, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Canada (TSN). Video on Demand will also be available 12 hours after the live broadcast ends in these and other markets.

The legendary Simpsons creators have collaborated on the look, sound, and feel with ESPN and the NFL to ensure the authenticity of the longest running primetime scripted series with more than 750 episodes.

This is the second consecutive year ESPN, Disney and the NFL have presented a Funday Football telecast.

State-of-the-Art Technology: The Simpsons Funday Football Features Every Play of Bengals-Cowboys Game

Each Bengals and Cowboys player will appear as a motion-enabled, animated player for the special primetime matchup. Through state-of-the-art tracking technology enabled by NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Sony’s Beyond Sports, combined with Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking, fans enjoying The Simpsons Funday Football will see every snap, run, pass, score, and more from the real-life Bengals and Cowboys matchup at AT&T Stadium as it happens.

Sony’s Beyond Sports makes it possible to combine two data sources, analyze, validate, enhance, translate to a 3D environment, and stream to a desired platform in real-time. Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking creates dynamic player and character movement including detailed limb movement and mannerisms.

Bart and the Bengals, Homer and the Cowboys Headline Presentation with Classic Simpsons Characters and Humor

With Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as the setting, The Simpsons Funday Football will be a true family affair as Bart Simpson sides with Joe Burrow and the Bengals while Homer aligns with Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. For most of the game, Bart and Homer will let their new Bengals and Cowboys teammates manage the action, but the iconic father and son duo won’t sit on the sidelines for the entire game. Each will select key opportunities to play offense and/or defense, replacing a player and joining his other 10 teammates on the field.

Surrounding the gameplay, Marge and Lisa will interview players during the game and Maggie will fly the SkyCam, while popular characters, show references, and aesthetics will bring a real Sunday-night-with-the-Simpsons feel to Monday Night Football.

• A Myriad of Simpsons Characters: The telecast will feature dozens the show’s iconic characters, with each playing into their well-known persona.
• Authentic Simpsons Voices:Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith will voice several of their characters in prerecorded bits and skits.
• Picking Sides: Homer and Bart will rally their supporters who will join them on their respective sidelines throughout the matchup. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse, and Ralph will be with Bart (Bengals), while Carl, Barney, Lenny, and Moe will be with Homer (Cowboys).
• Custom Simpsons Scenes and Writing: Outside of the live game, Simpsons producers have written original content for the telecast that will be utilized before, during, and after the game.
• The Simpsons Music: The timeless theme song and more jingles from the show will be employed.
• The Simpsons and ESPN: Animated segments incorporating Stephen A. Smith, Peyton and Eli Manning, and others will appear in the telecast, with their segments written by the Simpsons creators.
• Bengals and Cowboys Players: Players from both teams will have pre-recorded segments which include interactions with Simpsons characters.

ESPN’s In-House NFL Personalities, Simpsons Fans to Call the Action 

The Simpsons Funday Football will have its own animated commentators, as ESPN’s Simpsons enthusiasts Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will provide football strategy discussion with Drew Carter calling the game action. Kimes, Orlovsky, and Carter will be animated in the style of the Simpsons and don ESPN Edge Innovation Partner’s Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield thanks to VR technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports’ Virtual Commentator Technology.

ESPN’s First Funday Football Received Numerous Sports Emmys, Record Disney+ Viewership

The second edition of Funday Football follows ESPN’s Toy Story Funday Football in October 2023, also presented by Disney, ESPN, and the NFL, and utilized NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Sony’s Beyond Sports’ Technology, and Hawk-Eye Innovation’s skeletal data. The first-of-its-kind presentation for the NFL won three Sports Emmys – Outstanding Production Design, George Wensel Technical Achievement, and Outstanding Graphic Design – and was recognized with four additional US Festival Awards. The creative endeavor was ESPN’s first fully animated NFL telecast, delivering the biggest live event to-date on Disney+ (based on peak concurrency). More on ESPN’s unmatched alternate telecast history is available here.

Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters on the Traditional Call of Monday Night Football

ESPN’s Monday Night Football traditional telecast will have Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters on the call, live from AT&T Stadium. Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli will primarily focus on the traditional presentation while also periodically checking in on The Simpsons Funday Football.

The Simpsons + Disney

The iconic Simpsons franchise joined the Disney family during the 20th Century Fox acquisition. Disney+ is the streaming home of The Simpsons, with 35 seasons and over 750 episodes.

New York Mets vs. Milwaukee Brewers Game 3 Drew Largest MLB Game Audience on ESPN Platforms Since 2021: Average Audience of 4,017,000 Viewers; Peaked with 5,745,000 Viewers 

The 2024 MLB Wild Card Series, which aired exclusively on ESPN platforms, was the most-watched ever, according to Nielsen. The nine-game event, which included games on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, averaged 2,823,000 viewers, up 25 percent from last year and up one percent from 2022. It was also up from the 2020 version of the event.

The New York Mets thrilling victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Thursday night’s decisive Game 3 averaged 4,017,000 viewers, making it ESPN’s most-watched MLB game since the 2021 win or go home American League Wild Card Game which saw the Boston Red Sox defeat the New York Yankees. Last night’s audience peaked with 5,745,000 viewers at 9:45 p.m. ET.

ESPN generated its most-watched season of Sunday Night BaseballPresented by Capital One in five years — since 2019 — according to Nielsen. The 2024 campaign averaged 1,505,000 viewers across 25 games, up six percent from 2023.

The Sunday Night Baseball franchise also experienced growth in several key demographics, including Adults 18-24 (26 percent), Women 18-34 (16 percent), and Adults 18-34 (12 percent).

This season, ESPN averaged at least two million viewers four times on Sunday Night Baseball, and the average of the top five games was up 23 percent vs. last year.

ESPN platforms will exclusively broadcast the 2024 MLB Wild Card Series Presented by T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, starting Tuesday, October 1.

This article originally appears on the ESPN Press Room.

Last Saturday, UFC 306: Noche UFC put on a once-in-a-lifetime show from Sphere in Las Vegas, exclusively on ESPN+ PPV.

The iconic venue’s first-ever live sporting competition featured two championship fights and was held in advance of Mexican Independence Day, honoring and celebrating Mexico’s many extraordinary contributions and accomplishments across combat sports.

“ESPN covers big events and stories unlike any other — it’s part of our DNA,” Matt Kenny, ESPN VP of Programming & Acquisitions, said.

Kenny added that “UFC 306: Noche UFC is the latest example of incredible collaboration across the organization to support this one-of-a-kind event from an iconic venue.”

The event was a massive success. It sold out with 16,024 people in attendance and set records for UFC’s live gate ($22 million) and merchandise sold.

“ESPN Deportes continues to build on the success of Noche UFC, now in its second year, as part of our unwavering commitment to delivering premier combat sports content to our US Hispanic audience,” Leonardo Penagos, ESPN Sr. Manager, Programming & Acquisitions, said.

Here are some of the highlights from the historic and one-of-a-kind event and how it all tied together across The Walt Disney Company:

An inside look at ESPN’s on-site studio shows, part of the 100+ hours of UFC content across ESPN’s linear platforms.

Ahead of #UFC306 Noche UFC, Sr. Production Coordinator Cheyenne Leeman takes ESPN PR through a day in her life to learn how ESPN’s production team brings fans inside all the action from the historic fight week in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/TYqOQh9fr2

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 14, 2024

UFC stars appeared across ESPN’s signature studio show lineup, including UFC CEO Dana White on ESPN’s First Take.

.@DanaWhite says Noche UFC will be “where sports and entertainment truly come together for the first time ever.”

“The Sphere is the star.” pic.twitter.com/VXDed7kF15

— First Take (@FirstTake) September 9, 2024

Here’s how @ESPNMMA social connected fans with their favorite fighters in brand new ways.

ESPN Social teammates Arthur Puu & Vicente Bonilla share @espnmma’s content approach ahead of the historic #UFC306 Noche UFC in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/9SPyuZh9e5

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 14, 2024

And all of it culminating with the main card exclusively on ESPN+ PPV in English and Spanish and the prelims available on ESPN+, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes.

#NOCHEUFC FROM INSIDE SPHERE

Stream #UFC306 LIVE on ESPN+ PPV https://t.co/IYNft6nCBl pic.twitter.com/zUhJDmNLna

— ESPN (@espn) September 14, 2024

ESPN’s Monday Night Football 2024 season opener averaged 20.5 million viewers (ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, and NFL+) for the San Francisco 49ers’ 32-19 win over the New York Jets (September 9, 8:15 p.m. ET). The audience is Monday Night Football‘s second-most-watched Week 1 matchup in ESPN’s 19 seasons airing the legendary television franchise (2006–present, 34 games).

The three seasons of Monday Night Football with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters on the mic have scored as the three most-watched Week 1 games in the ESPN era. The trio was joined this season by Laura Rutledge on site in San Francisco.

ESPN’s Most-Watched Week 1 MNF Games

Overall, there have been 34 Week 1 games on ESPN platforms due to doubleheaders in most seasons. Monday Night Football Continues Momentum of Top Games
The strong start to the 2024 season campaign continues the momentum for Monday Night Football. Accounting for all weeks, the Jets-49ers is the sixth-most-watched Monday Night Football game in the ESPN era, with four of the preceding five occurring during the 2023 season.

Monday Night Countdown Draws 1.3 Million Viewers
Leading into the game, Monday Night Countdown (6-8 p.m. ET) averaged 1.3 million viewers, as Ryan Clark, Jason Kelce, and Marcus Spears joined Scott Van Pelt for the crew’s first on-site show together. Adam Schefter also appeared on the programming from Levi’s Stadium.

Are you ready for some football? Joe Buck sure is.

ESPN’s Monday Night Football play-by-play announcer and his broadcast partner Troy Aikman embark on their 23rd season together this Monday when the New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers take on the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

The duo has been together since 2002 — which makes Buck and Aikman the longest broadcast partners in NFL history. Buck has called 400 regular-season games, more than 40 playoff matchups, 18 NFC Championships and Super Bowls XXXIX, XLII, XLV, XLVIII, LI and LIV, so he’s seen a few things in pro football.

However, what does he expect from the upcoming season?

To find out, we spoke with Buck about the NFL kickoff this weekend, what makes Monday Night Football so special, and what Jason Kelce — his new ESPN colleague — can bring to Monday NFL Countdown.

You’ve worked for many networks and called many different sports. What makes Monday Night Football on ESPN different?

It is a stand-alone night. Not only is there a significant audience of fans, but everyone in the league is watching too. Add to that the history of the franchise and, for me that my dad called Monday Night Football on radio, it is special. When that theme song hits, even going into year three, I still get chills.

Culture has increasingly become more and more fragmented, but the NFL is still a cultural behemoth that connects all types of audiences. Why do you think that is and what role does Monday Night Football play in that?

Monday Night Football remains appointment television, a concept that becomes rarer by the day. No one ever says, “don’t tell me who won the MNF game because I am going to watch it next week.” There is immediate conversation surrounding the results. Also, the game represents the final word on the week that is and the first word on the upcoming week.

You have been calling games for 30 years and the industry has changed so much in that time. Has your job changed at all? Do you foresee it changing in the foreseeable future? 

The casual fan is much more educated, because of fantasy football and the amount of information available. When I started in 1994, we were breaking news, providing updates on players’ season throughout the broadcast. Now that happens continuously on people’s phones – It is delivered right to them, every day. So, as a broadcaster you need to bring something new to the viewer. One area where we can is that we talk to the players and have access, so bringing that to the people at home is important. Oh, and social media too – that can keep you honest and drive you nuts.

What are you looking forward to the most about this season both as a broadcaster for ESPN and as a fan of the NFL?

The story with the NFL is any team can go worst to first. It doesn’t happen in any other sport like it does in the NFL. There will also be one or two surprise teams, like Houston was last year, that everyone is talking about late in the season. That is the beauty and what makes covering the league so fun.

Jason Kelce is joining Monday Night Countdown this season. What do you think he brings to the broadcast?

He is a superstar with an unbelievable personality. Plus, he is now part of pop culture with his brother and Taylor Swift, but he stands on his own as a Hall of Fame player. He has fun and he will bring that to the pregame, allowing everyone to play off it. And he knows A LOT about football.

ESPN’s signature morning debate show First Take with featured commentator and executive producer Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim today announced three live shows on-site at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) this fall.

The scheduled locations are Howard University on Sept. 20, Tennessee State University on Oct. 11, and Clark Atlanta University at Morehouse College on Nov. 8. All shows will air on Fridays.

Sept. 20 at Howard University (Washington, D.C.):

Howard University, one of the most famous HBCU programs in the country, will face Hampton University the following day in the fourth annual Battle for the Real HU game.

Oct. 11 at Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tenn.):

The First Take team will be joined by former NFL star and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, who has been the Tennessee State head football coach since 2021.

Nov. 8 at Clark Atlanta at Morehouse College (Atlanta, Ga.):

Historic Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University make up one of the world’s oldest and largest associations of HBCUs. On this weekend, rivals Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta will face each other at B.T. Harvey Stadium in Atlanta.

First Take has a history of visiting HBCUs or in support of HBCU week since 2019. The show has traveled to Winston-Salem State University (2023) and home to alum, Smith; Savannah State University (2023) and home to alum, Shannon Sharpe; and to Florida A&M with comedian Kevin Hart and movie producer Will Packer (2021).

The show has also celebrated HBCU Week at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in 2022 and at 76ers Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Del. in 2019.

ESPN’s First Take airs weekdays from 10 a.m. – Noon ET on ESPN.

With the Main Draw of the 2024 US Open underway in New York City, ESPN and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) have extended their relationship with a new, 12-year agreement that will keep the iconic event with ESPN through 2037.

The deal, which starts in 2026 and is ESPN’s longest-term tennis agreement, also continues to make ESPN the home of the entire US Open in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Canada on TSN and RDS. ESPN Deportes likewise continues as the exclusive Spanish-language home of the US Open in the United States.

The deal was brokered by IMG, the USTA’s media rights representative.

In the new agreement, USTA will take over host broadcaster duties from ESPN beginning in 2026 as ESPN focuses its production resources on the more than 260 hours of annual coverage planned for the U.S., as well as hundreds of hours for international territories.

“We take tremendous pride in our 15-year relationship with the USTA,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “This agreement reinforces our long-term dedication to tennis, our capacity to showcase one of the premier events on the annual sports calendar and, as the world’s first sporting event to offer equal purses for its female and male competitors, The Walt Disney Company’s industry-leading commitment to women’s sports.”

“After many remarkable years of partnership, we are thrilled to extend our partnership with ESPN and the Walt Disney Company, a collaboration that has driven extraordinary growth for the US Open,” said Lew Sherr, USTA CEO and Executive Director. “This year’s US Open is well on its way to being the most spectacular Championship in our history and together with ESPN, we are energized by an even brighter future. Our shared commitment to expanding the reach of tennis has contributed to significant increase in participation. Together, we will continue to leverage the US Open as a powerful platform to promote our mission to inspire healthier people and communities.”

“This ESPN deal is groundbreaking, not only for the USTA and US Open, but for tennis globally,” said Hillary Mandel, EVP and Head of Americas, Media at IMG. “The new agreement will super-charge this iconic, captivating Grand Slam’s exposure, production, promotion, content, and economic investment, ensuring record year-on-year growth for the next decade and beyond.”

Deal Highlights

• Expanded streaming rights, giving ESPN flexibility to roll out additional ways for fans in the U.S. to consume US Open content
• Expanded Fan Week coverage, including daily live coverage on ESPN2 and distribution of the prime-time exhibition events that debuted this year on ESPN platforms
• Introduction of fast-paced, shot-to-shot whip-around coverage set to debut on ESPN+ the first week of the 2026 US Open main draw
• Annual coverage of the final Sunday and Middle Sunday on ABC
• Availability of all play across all courts daily
• Daily Spanish-language coverage in the U.S. on ESPN Deportes
• Provision to ESPN for limited sublicense rights

Recent US Open Viewership Highlights

The US Open on ESPN has set – and kept – some unforgettable viewership records, such as:

• 2023: The Women’s Championship between winner Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka is the most-viewed women’s final of any tennis major ever on ESPN, and the most-streamed women’s match on ESPN+.
• The men’s and women’s Semifinals on ESPN is the most-viewed since the current deal started in 2015.
• 2022: Serena Williams’ last appearance remains the most-watched tennis telecast on record in ESPN’s 44-year history with 4.8 million viewers. Viewership peaked with 6.9 million viewers.
• 2015: The Men’s Championship between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer averaged 3.2 million viewers and stands as the most-viewed for the event ever on ESPN on record,

Eight-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick will bring his unprecedented football pedigree to ESPN this NFL season through Belichick’s separate agreements with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and The Pat McAfee Show.

The highly-decorated, record-setting football icon will join The Pat McAfee Show (12–2 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+, and 2–3 p.m. on YouTube and ESPN+) each Monday; be a featured guest for all 11 Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli alternate telecasts (ESPN2 and ESPN+); and launch a new, multiplatform show with Peyton Manning.

Each Belichick appearance, as well as the debut of the ESPN+ Original Series The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick, begins around Week 1.

The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick

The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick will premiere on Friday, September 6, with the multi-time Super Bowl-winning QB and head coach providing a film room, schematic breakdown of the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers, days before the Week 1 marquee matchup on Monday Night Football (September 9, 8 p.m. ET).

Throughout the season, the 30-minute show will release a new episode on Fridays that precedes a Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli alternate telecast, with each edition of The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick singularly focusing on the two teams playing on Monday Night Football in that given week. As such, there will be 11 editions of the ESPN+ Original Series in the inaugural season, the same number of editions as Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli.

Each episode of The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick, produced in conjunction with NFL Films, will follow a similar approach as the two former foes turned teammates dissect the upcoming Monday Night Football game in the film room, focusing on team and player tendencies and game plan approach for both teams. All episodes will debut on ESPN+ and air on ESPN2 multiple times leading into Monday Night Football. Excerpts will be showcased on ESPN programming, including multiple studio shows.

Belichick Joins Peyton and Eli Throughout the First Half on the ManningCast

Each episode of The Breakdown will set the stage for Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, where Belichick will join the Emmy Award-winning show as a featured guest. Belichick will regularly come on with Peyton and Eli shortly after the game is underway and join the Super Bowl-winning brothers during the first half. In the second half, Peyton and Eli will bring on additional guests from both inside and outside the sports world, including pop culture icons.

Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli returns with the Jets-49ers matchup in Week 1 (September 9 on ESPN2 and ESPN+). The remaining schedule for the alternate telecast will be announced in the coming days.

Belichick joins The Pat McAfee Show Every Monday of the Season

In a separate agreement with ThePat McAfeeShow, Belichick will join McAfee each Monday of the NFL season, for an extended conversation on all things NFL, including reaction to the week’s headlining game results, storylines and more. Belichick’s first appearance on the progrum came during the fifth annual Draft Spectacular, which drew record-breaking viewership across social platforms.

With so many channels, services, and options to choose from, one of the biggest plights of the avid sports fan is trying to figure out where their favorite team’s game is playing.

ESPN’s Where to Watch is now here to help.

Launching today on the industry-leading ESPN App and ESPN.com, Where to Watch is an easy-to-use guide for sports fans to find where to watch any sports event on ESPN platforms and beyond, including broadcast, cable, and regional sports networks and streaming services.

“Simplifying discovery of sporting events and where a fan can watch has become increasingly important as sports viewing has become fragmented across networks and platforms,” Brian Marshall, Vice President, Sports Product & Technology, Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology, said. “ESPN has always been the first stop for sports fans, and as we continue to evolve as the preeminent digital sports platform, we are proud to meet the needs of fans with new features to improve the discoverability of live sports and simplify their consumption journeys.”

To find out more about Where to Watch, we spoke with Chris Jason, Executive Director, Product Management, and Tim Bayus, VP, ESPN Strategy.

How will ESPN’s Where to Watch make sports fans lives easier? Chris Jason: We built this with the sports fan in mind. As sports viewing has become fragmented across many TV networks and streaming platforms, it has become more difficult and confusing than ever for people to know where they can watch their favorite teams, players, and sports on any given night.

I am a huge basketball fan. My kids and I have watched every Caitlin Clark game this season, but it hasn’t been easy. The Indiana Fever have had games on ESPN, ABC, ION, NBATV, CBS Sports Network, and Prime Video, and we find ourselves going from app to app, channel to channel, to find the game when we know Clark is playing.

Where to Watch will show you exactly where the game or event is playing in a simple, smooth user interface that we hope will be a service to fans – and a daily habit. With persistent and prominent access from every screen, we’ve made it easily accessible from any screen in ESPN.com or ESPN App.

Can you explain a little bit more about how Where to Watch works? Jason: At its core, Where to Watch is a proprietary database of sports events and the networks and services airing them, presented in a smooth, simple-to-use interface on ESPN.com and ESPN App.

The Where to Watch experience is organized into two primary elements: Favorites and the Guide. For users with favorite teams, sports, and leagues, it will display upcoming events right at the top of the screen so they can easily plan their viewing. If a user has not yet personalized their ESPN experience (or wants to modify it), they can do so from right within Where to Watch.

Where to Watch is a scrollable, time-based guide that lists most sports events occurring by time on a given day. Fans can view all the sports events and be linked directly to ESPN network streams (via ESPN+ or TV Everywhere authentication), as well as select partner networks, which include NESN and Monumental Sports at launch. Fans can filter Where to Watch by league (NFL, UFC, WNBA, etc.) or watch option (ESPN+, Peacock, FOX, etc.) and search for events.

While ESPN has always had a robust schedule of ESPN events, we don’t present all of them! To solve that problem for fans, we had to augment our event database with network information beyond ESPN and some of the major national networks we were already maintaining.

In collaboration with the ESPN Stats and Information Group, our Engineering team improved the tools used to display the watch options in Where to Watch, among other ESPN touchpoints. As part of this initiative, we’ve added support for over 100 new networks and streaming platforms, now totaling over 250 potential media sources.

Why did ESPN create Where to Watch? Jason: Sometimes the highest impact ideas are the simplest ones. It should be easier to find out where you can watch sports. By solving this problem, we re-enforce ESPN’s position as the preeminent digital sports platform and continue to build trust and loyalty. If fans love using our products, if they get value and they trust that we are obsessed with serving sports fans, they will spend time with us. That benefits every business we operate.

What’s the impact of Where to Watch on ESPN and The Walt Disney Company’s business?Tim Bayus: Where to Watch is primarily a fan-forward feature that is another step in our efforts to solve the pain points of discoverability and fragmentation. We have established initial partnerships with a few regional sports networks (NESN and Monumental Sports) to link fans directly to partner networks and content. We are optimistic about expanding the availability and number of partners over time.

ESPN Digital is by far the No. 1 digital sports destination and is uniquely positioned to deliver a more accessible, seamless viewing experience to a broader audience of sports fans.

ESPN is launching its stand-alone direct-to-consumer product in 2025. Will Where to Watch be associated with it in any way? Bayus: By the time our new DTC product launches in 2025 we are hopeful Where to Watch has become a part of the sports fan’s daily routine. We will make it easy for people to subscribe and stream, set reminders, and generally plan their sports viewing day with us.

Where to Watch will be a great discoverability tool for fans to see the breadth of live sports that can be watched on our DTC service. And, while Where to Watch will link directly to our standalone direct-to-consumer product, we have built it to serve all fans – those subscribed to the ESPN DTC product and those who aren’t.

This Saturday at noon ET, ESPN is televising its first college football game of the season… from overseas. During the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, where No. 10 Florida State will take on Georgia Tech, the crew of Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, and Katie George will be live from Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland calling the action.

For the first time in its 37-year history, College GameDay Built By The Home Depot — which precedes the game — will broadcast from an international location. The pregame show will come to audiences live from College Green outside Trinity College in Dublin.

This exciting broadcast speaks to college football’s global popularity and ESPN’s unwavering commitment to college sports. It’s also an example of the kinds of big events that brands want to be associated with through The Walt Disney Company’s powerful advertising engine.

When the game begins and the 2024-25 College Football season kicks off with it, fans and advertisers will witness the company’s “continued global embrace of college football,” Rita Ferro, President of Global Advertising at Disney, said. “Disney Advertising is excited to help our advertisers create impactful connections with sports fans worldwide, celebrating the sport’s dynamic reach and universal appeal.”

Multinational Production, International Expansion

ESPN serves sports fans anytime, anywhere. This weekend that means Dublin, but the whole world is a field for ESPN and college sports.

“Acquiring global rights to our collegiate events has long been a priority” for ESPN, Nick Dawson, Senior VP of Programming & Acquisitions, said. Dawson and his team negotiated both ESPN’s recent College Football Playoff media rights extension through the 2031-32 season, and the network’s deal with NCAA on an eight-year media rights agreement.

“We want to continue to grow interest in college sports internationally given the increase in foreign born student-athletes that participate,” Dawson said. “Showcasing those performances as part of championship level events via the CFP and NCAA deals is a natural fit and an important piece of our international collegiate offering.”

Being a part of The Walt Disney Company doesn’t hurt, either. Due to distribution that Disney can reach on its owned platforms and via syndication, ESPN is available to a wider global audience.

Long-Term Stability for Consumers and Advertisers

Fans can expect these types of broadcasts from ESPN for a long time to come.

“Sports is core to our business, and we recognize the significance and cultural resonance that these games have with audiences year-round,” Ferro said. “Our legacy of leadership in the marketplace directly translates to the longevity of our brand relationships – with double-digit increases in multi-year deals this Upfront, a testament to our reach and impact.”

ESPN is bringing the most essential of must-watch college sports programming to its audience, like the College Football Playoff and 40 NCAA championship events over the next eight years.

Because there’s only a finite amount of championship games to broadcast, “to have the opportunity to strike long-term agreements to extend our partnership with these two entities and make ESPN the continued home into the early 2030’s of nearly every major collegiate national championship event was special,” Dawson said.

While ESPN is going where the biggest sporting events are, it’s also making those events available wherever the fans are.

“In addition to serving as a pillar of our live event sports content on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, we have three linear networks that are fully devoted to college sports in ESPNU, SEC Network and ACC Network, and college sports is by far the largest supplier of live events for ESPN+ annually as well,” Dawson said. “Ensuring that we buttress that robust regular season offering with the pinnacle moments of these sports (i.e., the national championships) was critical, both from a programming perspective and in terms of maximizing our ability to drive ad revenue and distribution value.”

Fans and advertisers will both know that Disney has a long commitment to college sports, and that ESPN is a place they can come to for engaging with their favorite sporting events.

“Inviting Brands to be Part of the Story”

“Live sports are an attractive conduit for advertisers to reach consumers in real time and are important drivers in the direct-to-consumer space,” Dawson noted. “In addition, sports fans are filled with passion and loyalty that translates to so many of our businesses.”

ESPN is leading the way in making those deals with leagues across established popular sports, championship level games, and areas finding a broader appeal than ever before.

One example is women’s sports, “which have exploded in popularity both with fans and advertisers,” Dawson said. “Our investment with the NCAA positions us at the forefront of driving continued growth in women’s sports.”

ESPN is continuing its evolution to further extend its lead as the top outlet serving sports fans, both on linear networks, but also into the digital future, where the brand enjoys a bountiful number of ways to connect with consumers.

“From the power of ESPN (linear, digital, social and DTC), to the broad reach of ABC, and the various other touch points we can offer across TWDC, our partners value the reach and brand power we are able to bring to the table and the impact we are able to have on the growth and exposure of their brands and content,” Dawson said.

For college football alone, that’s translated to more than 265 total advertisers across over 100 categories for Disney. Among those, nearly 30 have multi-year deals, with 3 coming since this year’s Upfront presentation.

Some of those brands that look to advertise on ESPN’s college football broadcasts are Home Depot, Allstate, and PepsiCo. Much like Disney, those companies represent leading companies with heightened brand recognition in their industries. And they all want to be a part of the sports story that Disney is telling.

“Sports have the power to unite, inspire and engage audiences across the world,” Ferro said. “These timeless moments and shared experiences resonate deeply with fans, staying with them for a lifetime — and we’re inviting brands to be part of the story.”

A version of this article originally appeared on ESPN Press Room

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• Ninth Season of Marquee National NBA Game of the Week: NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Returns with January 25 Tripleheader during NBA Rivals Week
• Emirates NBA Cup Tournament Action

ESPN and ABC today, in conjunction with the NBA, unveiled their 2024-25 regular season broadcast schedule. The 2024-25 campaign marks ESPN’s 23rd consecutive season broadcasting NBA games. The two entities — ESPN and the NBA — recently announced a landmark 11-year rights extension that will keep ESPN as the primary partner of the NBA and the exclusive home of the NBA Finals through 2036.

Season-Opening Action

The 2024-25 season opens on Wednesday, October 23, when the Philadelphia 76ers and Paul George host the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN in George’s first game with the 76ers. At 10 p.m., ESPN will televise the first regular season game from the Intuit Dome — the new home of the LA Clippers. The Clippers will host the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant.

ESPN’s season-opening action continues Friday, October 25, when the New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson host the Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton at 7:30 p.m. At 10 p.m., four members of the U.S. Men’s Olympic gold-medal team will be featured as LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers host Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.

Christmas Day Star Power

The NBA’s biggest superstars will be on display as ESPN platforms exclusively broadcast all five NBA Christmas games, starting at noon ET, on Wednesday, December 25, from historic Madison Square Garden. The New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson will host the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama on ESPN in what will be the French sensation’s first Christmas game. ESPN will bookend Christmas coverage at 10:30 p.m. as the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant host the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokić.

ABC will broadcast a Christmas tripleheader starting at 2:30 p.m. when the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Dončić host the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards. At 5 p.m., the reigning NBA Champion Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum host the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid. Icons clash at 8 p.m. as the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry host the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James. All three ABC games will also be available to watch on ESPN.

Additional ABCschedule highlights:

• Six appearances each by the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James and the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum;
• Five appearances each by the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Dončić and the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry;
• Ninth season of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC – the marquee national NBA game of the week — returns during NBA Rivals Week with January 25 tripleheader: Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks in an NBA Finals rematch, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors — LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry;
• Coast to Coast: LeBron James at Madison Square Garden as the Los Angeles Lakers visit the New York Knicks on February 1;
• Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo square off as the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Super Bowl Sunday;
• The Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics game will precede ABC’s coverage of the 2025 Academy Awards for the first time on March 2.

Additional ESPNschedule highlights:

• League-leading 11 appearances by Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets;
• 10 appearances each by the reigning NBA Champion Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks;
• Nine appearances each by the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder;
• ESPN’s first regular season NBA game from Paris, France on January 25, as the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama take on the Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton;
• NBA Rivals Week — January 22 through 25 — featuring five matchups across platforms;
• 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on February 14;
• Ascendant teams and rising stars collide when the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander visit the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards on February 23.

NBA on ESPN Opening Week Schedule

Christmas Schedule

NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Schedule

NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC

Emirates NBA Cup on ESPN and ABC Schedule

Full ESPN and ABC Broadcast Schedule

ESPN’s regular season NBA coverage generally includes primetime doubleheaders on Wednesday and Friday nights, Emirates NBA Cup action on Fridays in November, NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC — the marquee, national NBA game of the week — as well as the longstanding NBA Sunday Showcase franchise on ABC. ESPN platforms are also home to all five Christmas games, the NBA Finals on ABC, the 2025 Western Conference Finals, and first and second round playoff games.

All ESPN NBA programming is available on the ESPN App. ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes also offer robust NBA packages and those schedules will be revealed in the coming weeks. ESPN’s NBA pregame show is NBA Countdown, which generally airs 30 minutes prior to ESPN and ABC games. NBA Today, ESPN’s weekday NBA studio show, airs Monday through Friday from 3-4 p.m.

Adam Smith has been named Chief Product & Technology Officer, Disney Entertainment and ESPN, it was announced today by Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

In this role, Smith will oversee a global Product and Technology group spanning Disney’s entertainment and sports media businesses. He will be responsible for driving technology strategy, development, deployment and continued innovation across the company’s streaming platforms and networks, portfolio of consumer digital touchpoints, proprietary advertising technology, emerging technologies and more.

Smith will lead a global team of technologists, including engineers, product managers and designers, data scientists and technical operations teams. Smith will join Disney beginning September 3 and will jointly report to Bergman, Walden and Pitaro.

The three chairmen shared in a joint statement: “We could not be more thrilled to have Adam join the Disney team in this pivotal role. We’ve been aggressive in advancing our technological capabilities to better support our world-class media, streaming and advertising businesses, and Adam brings a bold, consumer-focused vision for the future and a proven ability to effectively lead global teams in implementing ambitious, scalable and flexible products and technology that will continue to elevate storytelling as the center of the Disney experience.”

“Disney has built and nurtured an unparalleled portfolio of brands bringing joy and delight to fans of all ages, thanks to a culture of creativity that embraces innovation,” said Smith. “I believe Disney is uniquely positioned to thrive in the next evolution of media and has made significant progress in a very short time while keeping storytelling front and center. I look forward to working closely with Alan, Dana and Jimmy and their top-notch teams and am excited to bring my expertise in utilizing technology to build compelling consumer experiences that will drive engagement and discovery among fans, families and friends.”

Smith joins Disney from YouTube, where he most recently served as Vice President, Product Management, leading Music and Premium as well as Subscriptions and Commerce since 2016. During more than 20 years at Google and YouTube, Smith held executive roles across numerous divisions, throughout significant growth trajectories of both companies. At YouTube, he played an integral role in building out its biggest consumer-facing products, driving its Music and Premium offering to over 100 million subscribers, as well as stints leading Global Content and Product across kids, sports, news and education (2013-14) and serving as the regional head for Asia-Pacific (2011-13). Within Google, he led development and strategy for a series of key products and groups including Google Fiber (2014-16), Google APAC (2009-11), and a portfolio that included Google Books, Google News, Google Finance and Google Scholar (2003-09). He previously held roles at Random House/Bertelsmann. Smith has served on the board of REDF since 2009. He earned a bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley and holds an MBA from Stanford University.

ESPN might have the most recognizable brand in the media world. Whether it’s that classic red, black, and white color scheme, or the decades-old earworm of SportsCenter’s “DaDaDa, DaDaDa” theme, fans know exactly what they’re getting into when they encounter ESPN.

So it might come as something of a surprise that beginning today, ESPN is unveiling a brand new opening logo animation for connected TV devices.

ESPN’s new connected TV opening animation

ESPN fans will encounter this animation whenever they enter the ESPN app experience on a connected television. While the animation is new, it carries a strong connection to the brand fans know and love. The big bold letters and echoes of that sound signature are still there, alongside a fresh display with added colors and a new sonic environment.

“We wanted to convey that ESPN is more than a network — it is a vibrant connection to the emotion of sports and a hub of high-quality sports entertainment,” Donny Guy, VP of Product Design for Sports and ESPN, said.

Whether it’s on ESPN.com, the ESPN app, or on social media, fans encounter ESPN in many ways beyond the TV network. Because of all those new access points for fans, the team was tasked with creating a new introduction that “reflects the dynamic and innovative spirit of ESPN,” Guy said.

Beyond that, the task was also to create “an animation that feels both distinctively ESPN and part of the larger Disney family,” Guy said. So, when diving into the creative process, the team used inspiration from other Walt Disney Company digital platforms like Disney+, Marvel, Star Wars, and Hulu.

Guy joined in on a collaboration already underway at ESPN’s Creative Studio, where Heather Donahue is Sr. Creative Director on design, and Claude Mitchell is the Coordinating Director of Music.

Together, their teams were able to create the new opening animation that would let fans know that they’re about to engage with the preeminent digital platform for sports fans.

“We wanted the ESPN brand to show up as a premium experience,” Donahue said.

Viewers will notice that the animation now includes a spectrum of colors around the classic black ESPN logo. The choice to incorporate more than the core brand colors was to subtly reflect the reach and depth of the ESPN brand. “The movement of the light behind the ESPN logo represents all the triumphant moments in sports arenas and stadiums,” Donahue explained.

Figuring out how to perfectly represent that took experimentation — leading to the creation of over 40 iterations of the animation. The motion and the way the light radiates around the logo were further refined to ensure they load properly on all platforms.

This video shows the iterative process leading to the final product

Mitchell’s team at first tried sounds that either had no relation to the SportsCenter theme or used other sections of the theme. However, they ultimately decided to return “to the classic mnemonic ID,” Mitchell explained. “It is so synonymous with ESPN, we had to find a way to bring it forward in the streaming world.”

“The ‘Ping’ makes the viewer look up and the ‘DaDaDa’ ushers them in for a premium ESPN Experience,” Mitchell explained.

The fully finished product is a new signature, designed with versatility in mind. It can eventually be used across various ESPN platforms like mobile and web experiences, and even on-air promotions. “The goal is to create a consistent and recognizable brand experience,” Guy said, “regardless of where our audience engages with ESPN content.”

It also aligns with the visual and auditory sophistication that viewers can see on display in the section tiles on Disney+, like Marvel, Star Wars, and Hulu.

ESPN is continuing to evolve as a brand, as it works towards ushering in a new era with its upcoming flagship direct-to-consumer platform.

“I see the animation as the beginning of how we are redefining the ESPN brand to elevate it consistently across our platforms,” Donahue said

On Wednesday, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN announced that it had reached a landmark 11-year extension with the NBA and WNBA for media rights that will be in effect from the 2025–2026 season through the 2035–2036 season.

The renewal continues Disney’s longstanding position as the primary rights partner of the NBA and WNBA and the exclusive home of the NBA Finals — the league’s crown jewel event. It also fuels ESPN’s evolution as the preeminent sports digital platform and leverages unmatched depth and scope of Disney’s brands.

We spoke with Rosalyn Durant — ESPN’s Executive Vice President of Programming & Acquisitions — about the new agreement, why it matters, and what it means for the future of ESPN.

I’ll start with a simple question: Why was it important for ESPN to renew its rights with the NBA and the WNBA?

The NBA and the WNBA are premium content that attracts a young, diverse fanbase and resonates globally, making it a pillar of ESPN’s overall content strategy. These rights are significant in fueling our digital future, including our flagship direct-to-consumer offering that launches in Fall 2025, which happens to be when this new rights term begins.

ESPN has also really invested in the WNBA. What do you think the future of ESPN and the WNBA looks like?

We have worked very closely with the WNBA since its inception to grow its league and brand and have seen a paradigm shift in its popularity in recent years with more games than ever on ABC, the most-watched WNBA Draft, and triple-digit viewership increases for games and shows. WNBA is a critical component of this agreement, as we have well established our commitment to women’s sports. We lead because we believe in it. I see the future of the WNBA on ESPN and ABC as one of tremendous growth and innovation.

ESPN and the NBA and WNBA have had a stellar relationship for decades, so how does this new rights deal strengthen that relationship?

We have a longstanding and highly successful partnership with the NBA dating back to 2002 and WNBA dating back to its launch in 1997. We work in concert with the league to maximize the partnership and have built tremendous relationships, and it goes beyond ESPN. We, The Walt Disney Company, partnered with the NBA on the COVID “Bubble” at Walt Disney World Resort in 2020. There is no better example of the strength of our brands together. If we could do that, we can do anything. We’re excited to have 12 years ahead of us — including one more on the current deal — to build on our legacy of innovation with the NBA and to continue playing an instrumental role in the tremendous growth of the WNBA.

ESPN nabbed the “A package,” which includes premiere games as well as the NBA Finals. However, is there anything about this new deal that should be getting more attention?

In addition to being the home of the NBA Finals with the most robust rights package of any league partner, I believe it’s crucial to underscore that the rights we’ve acquired to this premium content will play a vital role in our future. Fans will be able to watch all our NBA and WNBA content on our flagship direct-to-consumer product. Additionally, this is a true Disney deal that will facilitate first-of-their-kind collaborations between NBA and both Marvel and Walt Disney World Resort. No one else can do that.

How does ESPN help the NBA and the WNBA — or, to put it another way, why do the NBA and WNBA want to be in business with ESPN?

We’ve long established that ESPN is the most connected sports media brand to fans. The reach is unparalleled and when you consider the global reach of The Walt Disney Company, it makes our organization very attractive to leagues. I also believe deeply that our people are difference-makers. Their dedication, creativity, and innovation have helped the NBA and WNBA grow, expand, and reach new heights.

What excites you most about the new NBA/WNBA deal?

I’m excited for our people. I know how hard so many employees worked to reach this agreement. The effort was outstanding, and I’m both appreciative and proud of them. Beyond that, the NBA is part of the fabric of ESPN. It is a key pillar and marquee property, and we’re thrilled to continue this relationship deep into the future.

The Walt Disney Company and ESPN have reached a landmark 11-year extension with the National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Association for NBA and WNBA media rights that will be in effect from the 2025-26 through 2035-36 NBA seasons and the 2026 through 2036 WNBA seasons. As part of the agreement, ESPN continues its longstanding position as the primary media rights partner of the NBA and the WNBA, as well as the exclusive home of the NBA’s crown jewel event, the NBA Finals.

There is one season remaining on the current agreement. Today’s announcement was made by ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

ESPN’s full package of NBA and WNBA live events and programming, including the championship events, will be available on ESPN’s upcoming flagship direct-to-consumer platform, launching in the fall of 2025.

ESPN will also continue its rights to robust NBA Playoffs and regular-season live event packages, including the NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC series – the marquee, national game of the week. In addition, ESPN platforms will exclusively broadcast five WNBA Finals series during the 11-year extension at a transformative time in league history.

In a new initiative starting with the 2025-26 NBA season, Disney’s international package of NBA and WNBA games will be available to stream on its digital platforms, including on Disney+ in select markets around the world making this Disney’s most significant global sports expansion.

Statement from Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN

“As the media landscape continues to evolve, this forward-thinking agreement represents a significant and bold step in our mission to serve sports fans, anytime, anywhere, including opportunities to successfully navigate the global digital transition. Through a premium collection of regular and post-season game rights, culminating with the NBA Finals and WNBA Finals, plus studio and original content initiatives, we look forward to building upon our legacy of innovation with the NBA and continuing to play an important role in the extraordinary growth trajectory of the WNBA.”

Statement from Adam Silver, Commissioner, NBA

“Disney and ESPN have been part and parcel of the growth and coverage of the NBA over the past 22 years. And we are eager to build on this terrific partnership, which is one of the league’s most extensive and longest-standing relationships.”

Statement from Cathy Engelbert, Commissioner, WNBA

“Our partnership with Disney has been instrumental to the growth of the WNBA and women’s basketball, as Disney networks have been the home of the WNBA since the league launched 28 years ago. We look forward to building on the incredible momentum we have accomplished together to enhance the visibility of the players and teams and providing more engaging experiences for our fans in the years to come.”

More key WNBA highlights:

• WNBA Finals exclusively for five out of 11 seasons
• Exclusive WNBA Semifinals series in eight of 11 seasons
• Extensive regular-season and postseason WNBA game packages for ESPN and ABC
• Expanded WNBA Countdown rights
• Exclusive WNBA All-Star Game broadcast annually
• Exclusive WNBA Draft and WNBA Draft Lottery broadcasts annually
• More highlight rights across platforms

More key NBA highlights:

• All 11 NBA Finals exclusively, plus 10 exclusive NBA Conference Finals series through 2035
• Exclusive packages of NBA Playoffs first and second round games
• Rights to launch new NBA studio show featuring whip-around coverage on game nights
• NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC and NBA Sunday Showcase packages
• Exclusive home of the NBA Draft, NBA Draft Lottery and NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
• Wednesday and select Friday NBA games on ESPN
• All five NBA Christmas Day games annually; exclusive national coverage of regular-season’s final day
• Widespread ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes coverage, including NBA Finals, NBA Draft, NBA Playoffs, Conference Finals and regular-season games
• Development of the official The Bubble documentary – a behind-the-scenes look at the 2020 Pandemic-era NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals in quarantine at the Walt Disney World Resort
• More alternate-cast opportunities that will utilize the tremendous depth and breadth of Disney’s global brands and platforms
• Extensive slate of G League and summer league games, including the championship games

NBA and WNBA Help Fuel ESPN BET

The new agreement provides ESPN with all necessary rights to create best-in-class sports betting experiences for NBA and WNBA fans. ESPN will have increased rights to utilize NBA and WNBA highlights and content within its sports betting coverage and to support or integrate into ESPN BET promotions. Furthermore, ESPN has secured the rights to future NBA-focused sports betting specials and series.

More Studio Programming than Ever

ESPN has secured the rights to expand its NBA studio coverage via new whip-around programming. The rights include the ability to establish coverage on Disney nights, starting with enhanced game access, player arrivals and interviews. Additionally, rights include highlighting live action from around the league with real-time highlights and live cut-ins. In addition to whip-around coverage of the night’s games, the show will also include segments focused on different aspects of basketball, including culture and fashion, player arrivals, produced features and breakdowns from ESPN’s leading analysts. ESPN will continue to air its NBA Countdown pregame show and its weekday studio show NBA Today.

Disney Magic: Marvel Studios and Walt Disney World Resort

This groundbreaking deal will facilitate a formal, first of its kind, ongoing collaboration between the NBA and various Disney business areas, including with Marvel Studios and the Walt Disney World Resort. The NBA and Marvel Studios will collaborate on custom content to reach younger fans that leverage Marvel’s rich library of characters and environments. In addition, the NBA will have a dedicated presence at ESPN Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

Serena Williams can’t pinpoint the first time she watched ESPN… but she knows it’s always left a mark on her mind.

“I just remember that [jingle] ‘da-da-da, da-da-da.’ And that’s kind of seared in my memory,” Williams said. “It’s just something I’ve always watched. It’s just something that’s always been around.”

This week, Williams will appear on ESPN and ABC in new capacities from when she was regularly the focus of the SportsCenter Top 10 during her legendary tennis career.

On Wednesday, ESPN+ will air the first episode in its multipart series In The Arena: Serena Williams, which provides the most complete, intimate, and compelling account of her storied journey through tennis.

Then, at 8pm EDT on Thursday, Williams will host The ESPYS on ABC. During her storied tennis-playing years, Williams was awarded with 12 ESPYS.

“I’ve been always saying I want to host The ESPYS, I want to host, I want to host,” Williams noted. “And now I’m doing it and so now I’m just super excited for it.”

“She is one of the greatest athletes of all time,” Kate Jackson, Vice President of Production at ESPN, said. “Williams brings gravitas and star power to The 2024 ESPYS.”

As Jackson notes, “Women’s sports is having a moment of arrival right now.” That helps makes Williams — who Jackson points out “is one of the greatest athletes of all time” — “the perfect choice to host The ESPYS this year.”

“Her career has been marked by resilience, excellence, and a trailblazing spirit,” which, according to Jackson, when merged with “her strength and authenticity” on screen, forms “a deep connection with athletes and fans.”

For Williams, the awards ceremony offers a chance to broaden the public’s understanding of her. “The ESPYS provide Serena with a platform to showcase her multifaceted personality and influence beyond sports,” Jackson added.

The timing of The ESPYS and In The Arena’s premiere so close to one another “allows ESPN to celebrate her remarkable career in the big way she deserves,” Lindsay Rovegno, Executive Producer of In The Arena: Serena Williams and the Senior Director of Production for ESPN+ Originals, said. “If any athlete has earned that spotlight, it’s Serena.”

Because when it comes down to it, “Anytime you have the chance to tell the story of the greatest of all time, it’s a no-brainer,” Rovegno noted.

ESPN had unprecedented access because of Williams’ participation in the process. “Having Serena actively involved in the production allowed us to gain unprecedented access to her personal and professional life,” Rovegno said.

“It’s a life that transcends sports,” and the team at ESPN+ was “able to dive into the latter part of her journey in a way that no one has experienced before,” Rovegno added.

The series will of course cover her rise from her childhood in Compton to “the way she’s redefined tennis, business, motherhood, and so many other areas,” Rovegno said. But, it will also explore less public aspects of her life, such as meeting her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and “her near-death experience after giving birth, the reason she boycotted Indian Wells for 14 years.”

“It all comes to life in vivid, unforgettable ways through the emotion of her firsthand experience,” Rovegno said.

At ESPN, “our core mission is to evoke passion, intrigue, and excitement in our viewers,” Rovegno explained. “That means providing authentic, unique access and genuine insight into our characters and key events.”

At the heart of that is storytelling, which ESPN has a long and storied history in. “Athletes trust us to tell their stories with integrity and depth,” Rovegno mentioned. “Just as 30 for 30 has earned an unsurpassed reputation for powerful storytelling from a films standpoint, ESPN+ Originals is blazing a similar trail on the series side.”

Rovegno went on to note that ESPN+ Originals aims “for bold, innovative big swings with fresh perspective, which gives our stories the potential to crossover and capture audiences across entertainment and pop culture – and Serena’s story is a perfect example.”

While storytelling is in the bloodstream of ESPN, it goes even farther up to its parent company, The Walt Disney Company. “Our approach mirrors Disney’s mission of creating high-quality, emotionally resonant content that appeals to a broad audience,” Rovegno concluded.

And the same goes for live programming, like The ESPYS.

“Disney brings a unique set of strengths to The ESPYS, including unparalleled storytelling capabilities and a broad reach through various platforms, including ABC,” Jackson explained. “Disney’s commitment to high-quality, emotionally resonant content enhances the production value and audience engagement of The ESPYS.”

Jackson further added that “the synergy between ESPN and Disney allows us to create a comprehensive and captivating experience that goes beyond the awards show, integrating cross-platform storytelling and entertainment that only Disney can deliver.”

With the 2024 Wimbledon Championships well underway and contenders coming into focus, it’s time to check in on all the new offerings from ESPN that have made this broadcast more engaging than ever before.

From new talent like John Isner joining ESPN veteran Chris McKendry to a reimagined broadcast center — not to mention the thrills and surprises on the court — here’s all the exciting updates audiences can look out for as they watch Wimbledon on ESPN platforms, leading up to the final rounds this weekend.

Emerging Storylines

Wimbledon 2024 has been a rollercoaster of surprises and upsets already, with the races for the championships far from decided.

On the women’s side, defending champion Marketa Vondrousova and the world No. 1 and No. 2 ranked Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff were knocked out in the early rounds of the tournament, leaving the door wide open for new and emerging stars to take the lead on hoisting the Venus Rosewater Dish.

Six of the last seven women’s single’s champions at Wimbledon have been first-time winners of the event, and “we’ll see if that trend continues or not,” Isner, ESPN Wimbledon commentator, noted.

On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz is still competing to retain his status as Wimbledon champ. Last year, Alcaraz took the title from Novak Djokovic, winner of the prior four Wimbledon Championships.

Djokovic — who has seven Wimbledon Final singles wins over all — is playing through a recent knee surgery. “How is that gonna hold up throughout the course of the tournament” is an open question, according to Isner.

The grass courts of Wimbledon will present challenges to many, including Alcaraz, who is still fairly inexperienced on grass.

Established Veteran, Fresh Perspective

This year, ESPN’s stalwart Grand Slam Tennis host McKendry — who has been calling tennis matches and hosting SportsCenter for nearly three decades — is joined by retired tennis pro Isner.

At Wimbledon, Isner is already famous for competing in the two longest tennis matches in Grand Slam history — winning the longest one ever, in 2010, over Nicolas Mahut.

Isner retired from professional tennis last year and is ready to relay his fresh and unique insights to audiences watching at home.

“He’s just come off the tour,” Marco Alfandary, ESPN producer, explained. “He’s got wins over many of the top players who are still playing today, and he sees things in their games that really make for great TV.”

McKendry agrees that Isner’s recent experience makes for an extra level of acuity about the tournament, noting that “the players we’re talking about, we can study their stats, we can study their numbers, their history, but to have somebody who has faced them is really a special addition.”

“It’s my first time doing it, but working with pros — especially like Chris, who’s been doing this for so, so long — helps me along the way,” Isner said.

Reimagined Broadcast Center

ESPN’s Wimbledon presence in London this year doesn’t just include new faces; the broadcast team has also been hard at work reimagining the broadcast center.

In just 100 days, the production, production operations, and studio directing teams completely redesigned their broadcast center at Wimbledon, expanding Studio 3 to nearly 900-square-feet, complete with a 34 x 6 ft. window that offers an unobstructed view of Court 18.

There is now a three-person desk for the main broadcast, a separate interview area, an interactive touchscreen, and a “mega wall” video display.

Marti Hanzlik, the coordinating director, noted that the broadcast will be enhanced due to the new view of Court 18, “the large LED screen displaying multiple court action, and the interactive touchscreen allowing talent to share their unique perspectives on the play.”

“We are thrilled to unveil the redesigned studios and enhance fans’ viewing experience of The Championships,” Chris Calcinari, SVP of Production Operations, said. “Behind the scenes, the new 1080p HDR control rooms will allow for improved quality and a more seamless, integrated production workflow, enabling valuable insights for fans throughout the tournament.”