Disney Considering Selling ESPN to Verizon and Apple

Not only is Disney a source of animated kids’ movies but it also owns many media outlets.

Disney owns ABC Network, 21st Century Fox, National Geographic, and several others. They provide several types of media to a wide range of viewers, not just kids. But now, Disney is starting to look for partners for one of their owned media platforms and it’s a very popular one!

Were you aware that Disney owns ESPN? The sports network has been under the Disney Company’s control for a long time — you can even visit the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World.

ESPN Wide World of Sports

Now, years later, Disney is searching for a partner or two to buy out part of ESPN. According to the New York Post via Sports Business Journal, Disney is likely looking for a company or two to purchase around 10%, give or take, of ESPN.

©ESPN

The media giant, Walt Disney Company, is likely looking to have the sports platform go direct-to-consumer by 2025 and is looking for partners to make that happen. Companies like Apple and Verizon are reportedly at the top of the list.

©Apple

Working with Apple could mean having the ESPN app defaulted onto every Apple phone, tablet, and computer in the world. Adding Verizon as a partner could bring a global networking company into the mix ensuring access to everyone. This could be a complete game changer for the sports company (pun intended).

©ESPN

This would present Apple an opportunity to jump into the sports arena without having to wait another decade, it would be an opportunity for the company to get started now. Disney only wants to sell 10% of the company, but this could potentially be changed. The process is only beginning and we’re sure we’ll be hearing more about any potential business deals.

In the meantime, keep following All Ears for more Disney news.