As you may know, ESPN is owned by Disney.

That’s why you can visit the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Disney World, and some streaming packages bundle Disney+ with ESPN+. There were rumors that Disney may sell ESPN, but in a new update, ESPN has reached an eight-year agreement with the NCAA.
According to The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and the NCAA have reached a new 8-year agreement that will begin on September 1st, 2024. This will give ESPN “domestic rights to a record 40 NCAA championships – 21 women’s and 19 men’s events – and international rights to those same NCAA championships plus the Division I men’s basketball tournament.”

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said that this deal “further strengthens The Walt Disney Company’s industry-leading commitment to women’s sports and will help fuel our continued growth, including in the critical streaming space.”

This new deal will continue coverage of everything previously included — all rounds of marquee NCAA Championship events — and will add coverage of the Division I men’s and women’s tennis team championships and the national collegiate men’s gymnastics championship.

So, what does Bog Iger have to do with this? Well, Iger has previously talked about his #1 priority as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, with plans to increase the profitability and growth of Disney’s streaming content.

This decision to sign an agreement for the next eight years is unprecedented, given that audiences’ streaming preferences can change so quickly. That said, sports coverage has been in demand for a while, so it’s likely Iger felt it was a worthy investment to strengthen ESPN’s content library.

We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to AllEars for more updates.
See what new sports betting service Disney will launch soon!
Join the AllEars.net Newsletter to stay on top of ALL the breaking Disney News! You'll also get access to AllEars tips, reviews, trivia, and MORE! Click here to Subscribe!

What do you prefer to watch on ESPN? Tell us in the comments!
Trending Now
Amazon has Loungeflys on sale as part of Prime Day!
We're sharing our absolute favorite Disney finds that are on sale right now!
EPCOT's latest ride reopening could prove chaotic for land hopping.
This Disney World rule could definitely use some tweaks.
Get a first look at the newly reopened Disney's Princess Breakfast Adventure in the Grand...
"it's a small world" is changing in Magic Kingdom AND Disneyland!
Cast Member picks for Prime Day Disney World essentials!
For a limited time, you can find some AMAZING Amazon Prime Day deals online.If you...
We have a first look at some exclusive Disney World merchandise!
Don't let the good deals slip away! We rounded up some of the BEST Prime...
We've spotted DOZENS of Disney Loungefly backpacks, bags, and purses on sale during Amazon's Prime...
We just found a secret stash of Disney toys on sale for Amazon Prime Day!...
5 shirts every grandma will need on her next Disney trip!
Don't miss out on this brand new Disney World hotel discount during one of the...
What the travel pros are ordering from Amazon's Prime Day sales.
We found the best Disney essentials you can get on sale on Amazon right now!
If you are flying home from Disney World with these souvenirs, be extra kind to...
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is back! Let's check out everything confirmed to be returning...
Why isn't Disney getting more specific about a soon-to-be-changed ride?
The official dates have just been announced for the Festival of the Holidays at EPCOT!