Disney - Investor day 2020 – ESPN

By Mulder, 10 december 2020

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming and exclusive editorial content. ESPN+ has grown to more than 11.5 million subscribers as of early December 2020.

At The Walt Disney Company Investor Day, Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content, The Walt Disney Company, shared details of a milestone new agreement with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and several new series and studio programs coming to ESPN+.

“Our priority is to make content available across all platforms, and that includes a strong focus on a directto- consumer future,” said Pitaro. “Our underlying goal is to acquire, create, and distribute the best sports content. And to do so in a way that serves fans, maximizes consumption & revenue, and best positions our business to continue to be the leader in an evolving sports media environment.

ESPN & ESPN+

Southeastern Conference (SEC) Agreement
ESPN and the Southeastern Conference have finalized a milestone 10-year agreement that grants The Walt Disney Co. exclusive multi-media distribution rights to all SEC football, basketball and Olympic sports events beginning in 2024-25, as well as select non-conference SEC football and men’s basketball games on ESPN+ beginning with the 2021-22 season. A significant expansion of ESPN’s current partnership with the conference – which features more than 1,900 annual events and the SEC Network – this landmark agreement will establish ABC as the new broadcast network home for premier Saturday afternoon SEC football games and selected Saturday primetime football games which will showcase Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Georgia and other popular SEC rivalries, as well as the annual SEC Football Championship Game, one of the most-viewed sporting events of the year. In addition, incremental marquee men’s basketball games – featuring Kentucky, Tennessee and other top SEC programs – will be featured annually across ABC and ESPN. The exclusive partnership with the SEC offers ESPN significant scheduling flexibility to utilize all of its networks and platforms. Through this new agreement, ESPN secures its position as the exclusive media rights holder for all SEC sports through 2033-34. Trailer

Peyton’s Places – Season Two, Three and Beyond
The Emmy-nominated series hosted by legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, currently in its 15-episode second season on ESPN+, will not only return for a third season but will also expand – bringing the same brand of fun, informative and insightful storytelling to other sports. Some of the most engaging storytellers and charismatic personalities from across sports will front their own versions of Peyton’s Places, including Abby Wambach (soccer), Ronda Rousey (combat sports), David Ortiz (baseball), Peyton’s brother Eli Manning (college football) and more. Through conversations with current and former players, coaches, entertainers and icons, the hosts will get to the heart of the stories of each sport -- the history and evolution, cultural impact, and the people and places that helped make it. Like the original Peyton’s Places, each series will aim to bring fans of all ages and types closer to the personalities, memorable moments and unknown stories that shaped the sport. Season three is expected to debut in Fall 2021, with the first of the new sports-specific series debuting in the first quarter of calendar year 2021.

Stephen A’s World
Stephen A’s World is a new weeknight program debuting in January. Sports media icon Stephen A. Smith will go beyond the sports headlines to give the audience an authentic and unique understanding of the stories that matter. The show will bring viewers his entertaining perspective, including deep expertise and unparalleled relationships with some of the most influential figures in sports, entertainment, and beyond. In addition to the expert analysis, signature debates, and can’t-miss celebrity interviews, the show will also feature a variety of exclusive segments, including “Honorable Mention,” Stephen A. answering fan video questions from his Twitter and Instagram accounts, using NBA 2K to breakdown a player’s game in “Streaming A Smith,” giving relationship advice to couples where one is prioritizing sports in the “Love Doctor” segment, “The Hook,” where celebrities pick their game winners every Friday, and weekly visits from the one and only “Baby Stephen A.” The new 30-minute episodes will be available every Monday-Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and available anytime on-demand.

SportsNation
A newly reimagined SportsNation will return exclusively on ESPN+ in January. The daily studio show, available every weekday morning at 6 a.m. ET, will deliver highlights-driven recaps of the latest in sports through the lens of opinion, debate, and the internet. Hosts will be joined by special guest analysts and commentators to provide a look at the night’s most resonant plays featuring the best reactions from around the social media world, discussion and debate, Top 10 lists, deep dives, interviews, and more.

Man In The Arena: Tom Brady
The highly-anticipated nine-part documentary series is built around Tom Brady’s never-before-seen, firsthand accounts of the journey to each of his nine Super Bowls (six victories, three defeats) will premiere exclusively on

ESPN+ in 2021.
In Man In The Arena, Brady and a notable lineup of interview subjects will talk about the milestones of his legendary, ongoing, career and the moments that became pivotal events in paving the future Hall Of Famer’s journey. Trailer

(Source : press release)