Jimmy Pitaro’s Game Plan for ESPN’s next era, 7/23/26
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro explains how the network plans to grow amid cord-cutting, rising sports-rights costs and the shift to direct-to-consumer streaming. He also discusses ESPN’s interest in future World Cup rights, local NBA broadcasts, its expanding NFL relationship and the role of ESPN within Disney’s broader streaming strategy.
ESPN is navigating one of the most consequential transitions in sports media: maintaining the value of traditional pay television while building a direct-to-consumer streaming business that reaches fans wherever they choose to watch.
In this episode of CNBC…
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