Disney’s earnings reveal the plan for Disney 3.0; it’s a plan that makes sense, and sports still plays a role.
ESPN Financials, NBA Spin, Jon Stewart vs. Apple
ESPN has released its financials, which show why they haven’t yet signed a new deal with the NBA. Amazon might bid, but the NBA’s product isn’t as compelling for streaming as it is for cable.
Spotify Subscription Audiobooks, Casual Fans and Bundles, Spotify’s Goals
Audiobooks on Spotify will not be available for “free” to Spotify Premium subscribers. It’s a move that makes sense for Spotify, and is one that authors should embrace.
Hollywood Writers End Strike, The Utah Jazz and Las Vegas Knights Go Direct
Hollywood writer’s ended their strike and claimed victory, but the losses are coming regardless. Plus, what studios want from AI, and how new NBA local rights deals show how unprepared the NBA is for a new reality.
Max Gets Sports, The Fox Linchpin, Disney’s Taylor Swift Era Confirmed
Max adds sports, and Fox might want to shore up its position in the bundle. Then, Disney confirms it is in its Taylor Swift era, and investors are not impressed.
Charter-Disney Winners and Losers
Winners and losers from the Disney-Charter stand-off, as The Great Re-bundling begins
The Rise and Fall of ESPN’s Leverage
Charting ESPN’s rise, including how it build leverage over the cable TV providers, and its ongoing decline, caused by the Internet.
Disney Earnings, A Split Disney?, ESPN’s Advertising
Disney’s earnings point to the importance of advertising going forward; that’s also the best argument for keeping Disney a conglomerate.
Disney’s Taylor Swift Era
Not even Taylor Swift can fight the devaluation of recorded music, but she makes it up in physical experiences; Disney isn’t much different, but it looks much worse given the company’s old business model.
Bob Iger on CNBC, The End of Linear TV, ESPN and Strategic Partnerships (and Apple?)
Bob Iger teased what might be next for Disney in an expansive interview, including the end of linear TV and hints about the future of ESPN.