Disney speaks with other bundles sports players before the launch of ESPN streaming

With the launching of streaming long expected from ESPN for a few days now, the CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, said that the company explored potential packages with other sports programmers.

“We believe that there can be opportunities for us to group the sports offers from other companies,” Iger said when Disney’s financial results in the third quarter. “We actually had some discussions with certain other companies to do exactly that.

ESPN announced Wednesday that it will launch its new streaming application on August 21. At $ 30 per month, the full function service includes all ESPN linear networks as well as a range of digital and streaming exclusions, including Paris and fantasy offers.

Fox Corp. Also aims on August 21 for the launch of its new streaming service, Fox One, which will provide a range of news, sports and entertainment. Fox managers also talked about the service potentially serving as a platform for third-party services.

The grouping was a successful strategy for Disney, not only with its own Hulu / Disney + / ESPN + package, but also with a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery for a Max-Disney HBO bundle.

Sports in particular are ripe for grouping, given the dismantling of traditional paid television and the preponderance of niche services left in limbo by transition to digital. Regional sports networks, formerly a gusher for programmers and operators, were in a financial state in tatters due to the cord cup.

“More sports can be offered in a single destination for the consumer, or if we can improve the ease of use for consumers, the ease of finding things,” the better Iger. “As a dedicated sport fan, I often have to work to try to find platform sports. If we can help consumers in this regard, we will certainly try.”

The comments of the leaders occurred after the company made a burst of ESPN announcements, including a historic agreement with the NFL to exchange equity for the control of the media assets of the NFL. Disney also reported a mainly solid set of quarterly financial results.