Disney’s live sports game debut on its streaming platform marks a significant shift in the company’s approach to streaming. The platform had previously only featured animated simulcasts of sporting events, but now it will stream real-time games. This move is part of Disney’s focus on sports streaming as a way to boost viewership and profitability in its streaming unit.
ESPN is also set to launch its own direct-to-consumer streaming product in fall 2025, allowing consumers to subscribe without cable. In addition, there are plans for a sports streaming service in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Corp. to launch this fall as well.
Negotiations are ongoing for exclusive TV rights for NBA games between Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery, with expectations for the value of these rights to double upon renegotiation. The WNBA’s current media rights deal expires in 2025, and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert anticipates significant growth for the league.
Patrick Rishe, director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University’s Olin Business School, sees the WNBA debut on Disney+ as a potential watershed moment for the league. He believes that streaming on Disney+ is crucial to reaching the league’s key demographic of families and younger audiences. Rishe draws parallels between the impact of rookie Caitlin Clark in the WNBA and Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer, underscoring the importance of streaming deals in sports today.
Overall, these developments signal that sports streaming is becoming an increasingly important part of the media landscape, with companies like Disney and ESPN looking to capitalize on this trend by offering direct-to-consumer products and exclusive content deals.
