Latest news with #Disney-owned
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
If NFL, ESPN deal is done soon, it will have an immediate impact on how fans consume the most popular sport in the US
Per CNBC, the league is expected to take a 10 percent stake in Disney-owned ESPN, while ESPN would have ownership of NFL Network — including its seven live games per season — and Red Zone. Some other NFL Media properties also may be part of the package, though NFL Films is not expected to be one. The benefits for ESPN are obvious and enormous. ESPN is launching a much-anticipated standalone app in the fall, with the hopes it will revive the network's pre-streaming status as 'The Worldwide Leader in Sports.' Having more NFL content will be nothing short of a gold mine for the direct-to-consumer app, which will cost $29.99 per month. And with the NFL holding a stake in ESPN, it essentially makes the network, as Puck's John Ourand put it, 'a forever partner' with the league, and legitimate security when broadcast and streaming rights are up for bid again. Advertisement The benefits for the NFL? The league has been looking for years to find a way to offload or share its in-house media properties, and there's no better partner than ESPN and its parent company, Disney. From a journalistic standpoint, it's fair to wonder whether the NFL believes there is a side benefit to the deal — the possibility of limiting certain critical reporting on the league, which ESPN has done exceptionally well. Advertisement How this partnership would fully affect you and me won't be totally clear until the deal is complete and the parameters are revealed. But the baseline is this: Much of what you currently enjoy watching on the NFL Network — which will still exist in 24/7 form — will be under the purview of ESPN. And you're probably going to have to pony up for one more pricey streaming service if you want to keep watching all of it. This really is fake news One of the many, many, many scourges of social media — particularly the swamplands of Facebook — is AI-generated content. The vast majority of posts about a pop-culture or sports topic or personality is AI-generated at this point. Some of it seems real. All of it is trash. A more recent trend is phony but believable stories about an athlete doing an extremely good deed. The Sports Hub's Scott Zolak got duped by one recently, passing along on his afternoon show that Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and his wife donated all of the gifts from their recent wedding to local homeless shelters and children's charities. It was the kind of story you want to believe, and plausible to some degree. It also wasn't true. It was a lie concocted and spread by a social media content farm. Advertisement Zolak isn't alone. On Thursday, I noticed a longtime prominent NBA media member share a post on the social media platform Threads that Lions quarterback Jared Goff donated — let's get this concoction right — 'his entire $15.9 million bonus and sponsorship earns to a homeless shelter in Detroit to help fund 150 units [of] housing with 300 shelter beds.' That was followed by a fake Goff quote about seeing homelessness firsthand growing up. Listen, if actual media people can't spot a phony story, it's understandable — if disheartening beyond belief — why so much of this sludge is treated as truth by so many. A word of advice: if a story that seems too good to be true (or, on the opposite end, too scandalous), it probably is. Always check to make sure it is something that has been initially reported by a credible journalist. Preferably with a link to an actual story. Please don't tell me that's too much to ask. Boring or a booming British? Reader Pete G. reached out this week to ask whether Scottie Scheffler's systematic dominance on the PGA Tour, combined with a nature that is somewhat less charismatic than Tiger Woods's in his heyday, has led to a decrease in viewership in the anti-climactic final rounds. 'Watching the 4th round [of the British Open] was so boring and uninteresting,' he wrote. 'He is annoyingly steady and he never ( gives up a lead when he is in the driver's seat.' All true. But golf viewers seem to be digging it, at least according to the viewership numbers from Sunday's final round on NBC. Nielsen reported 4.1 million viewers for the fourth round, which was up 21 percent from the final round of Xander Schauffele's victory a year ago. Even without much suspense — Scheffler finished at 17 under par to win by four strokes — golf fans stuck around to watch him complete his fourth major victory and second this year. Advertisement McAfee apologizes — five months later Sentient monster truck Pat McAfee apologized Wednesday on his eponymous ESPN show to a female Ole Miss student, a mere five months after carelessly amplifying a false rumor that sent her life into chaos. McAfee being McAfee, he did it in the most self-aggrandizing way possible, including deploying the phrase/shield, 'As a girl dad,'' which is almost always followed by an apology for some behavior that humiliated a woman. 'Girl dads' fear lawsuits too, I'd imagine. "As a Girl Dad, I was very thankful for the opportunity to let Mr. Cornett know that I was wildly regretful for the part that our show played in his daughter, Mary Kate's, pain." - Pat McAfee apologizing for sharing a false rumor about an 18-year-old Ole Miss student on his show. — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) Chad Finn can be reached at
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
ESPN viewership soars as it targets $2B NFL media deal and major streaming debut
ESPN's digital and broadcast platforms are peaking in 2025 (Image credits: IG/X) ESPN is dominating the U.S. sports media landscape in 2025, with record-breaking viewership, digital engagement, and a bold strategy to reshape its future. The Disney-owned giant just posted its best midyear primetime performance in over a decade—just as it readies a game-changing direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming platform and eyes a billion-dollar NFL Media acquisition. With the Core Update lifted and search trends rebounding, this ESPN momentum couldn't have come at a better time. ESPN Viewership Peaks: Strongest first half since 2017 The numbers say it all—ESPN averaged 712,000 viewers per minute in the first six months of 2025, its second-best H1 performance since 2017. This includes 1.9 million viewers in primetime, making it the strongest midyear showing since 2014. When factoring in ABC's sports coverage, the combined total hits 254 billion minutes watched, the highest since 2016. The cable sports network isn't just drawing eyeballs—it's dominating Nielsen's metrics across the board. With almost 300 billion minutes watched across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ESPNU, and ESPN Deportes, it ranked No.1 in total viewing time among all U.S. sports networks. ESPN alone logged 187 billion minutes, far outpacing competitors. 'ESPN has achieved multiple successes across the board,' the network said in its midyear summary, celebrating not just TV numbers but multi-platform gains. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep ResMed Buy Now Undo ESPN digital growth sets industry standard Beyond TV, ESPN is quietly becoming a digital juggernaut. It now reaches 175 million unique users across its U.S. digital and social channels—up 5% YoY and covering over 63% of the adult population. The ESPN app alone hit 27 million users in May, a 16% spike, outperforming the next nine apps combined. recorded 55.8 million unique visitors and 1.7 billion minutes watched in the same month, up 27% from 2024. On social media, ESPN kept its iron grip as the No. 1 sports brand for the 47th month in a row, with 768 million engagements in May—averaging almost 25 million per day. 'ESPN continues to outperform the entire sports category,' the company stated, referring to its digital-first dominance across web and mobile. NFL media in sight, DTC launch on the horizon ESPN's next chapter is already in motion. Internally codenamed 'Flagship,' its upcoming standalone DTC service will give users full access to ESPN's live programming without a cable login. It's expected to roll out this fall, at a time when cord-cutting is accelerating and audience behavior is changing fast. At the same time, ESPN is in talks to acquire NFL Media, including NFL Network and RedZone, in a potential deal reportedly valued at up to $2 billion. The NFL ownership group is expected to meet in August to weigh the proposal—a move that could realign the league's digital rights structure and ESPN's place in it. 'ESPN is in active discussions and the NFL is evaluating options,' reports suggest, making this a high-stakes moment for both legacy media and streaming players. Also read: 'Securing care was impossible': Richard Tillman's mental health spiral ends in fiery post office arrest FAQs Q1: Is ESPN still the No. 1 sports network in America? Yes, both in total viewing time and engagement, ESPN leads U.S. sports networks by a wide margin in 2025. Q2: When will ESPN's DTC streaming service launch? The full standalone ESPN DTC service, codenamed 'Flagship,' is expected to launch in fall 2025. Q3: Is ESPN really buying the NFL Network and RedZone? ESPN is in active talks to acquire NFL Media, but a final decision by NFL owners is expected in August. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Bill Belichick, North Carolina football docuseries coming to Hulu
It appears Bill Belichick's first season with North Carolina football will find its way on TV after all. A docuseries featuring Belichick and the Tar Heels is reportedly coming to Hulu, according to Front Office Sports on Friday, July 18. North Carolina was nearly the team to be featured this offseason on HBO's "Hard Knocks," a show that chronicles one NFL team during training camp each season. The Tar Heels would've been the first college program ever featured on the show, although the plans reportedly fell through just days before the show was set to be announced. REQUIRED READING: Bill Belichick says Jordon Hudson 'doesn't have anything to do' with North Carolina football Multiple reports added Belichick's girlfriend, 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, played an "instrumental role" in HBO moving away from North Carolina for "Hard Knocks," as she requested to be heavily involved in the docuseries. Belichick recently gave his answer on the potential "Hard Knocks" series during a podcast appearance with Ryan Clark on the "Pivot Podcast." 'Hard Knocks is training camp, and we're not training camp. We're just not,' Belichick said. 'That's not what we are. The drama of training camp, who's a cut and all that. Like, we're a season, and they don't want that. Yeah, there are film issues too, but forget about the film issues. Just say you could straighten all those out, Hard Knocks just didn't fit for us.' Belichick, 73, is a six-time Super Bowl champion head coach with the New England Patriots, which he coached from 2000-23. The 2025 season marks his first year coaching in college football, despite being the oldest head coach in Division I FBS. Belichick has been one of the largest subjects of discussion of the college football offseason, from his decision to coach at North Carolina to his relationship with Hudson. A docuseries by Disney-owned Hulu featuring Belichick and the Tar Heels is set to be appointment viewing for numerous college football fans.
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
ESPN isn't worried about any Shane Gillis backlash over ESPYs monologue
Shane Gillis' monologue at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night has left plenty of people divided over the contents of the jokes, but the Disney-owned sports network isn't concerned about the reaction that Gillis' routine received, The Post has confirmed. During his roughly 10-minute opening, Gillis poked fun at just about everyone from popular sports figures to President Donald Trump in a biting opening sequence to kick off the annual sports award show. The Worldwide Leader always knew Gillis' comedic stylings weren't going to be for everyone, as TMZ first reported, but there were no worries about the 'Tires' star who has worked with the network on its 'College GameDay' show. 3 Host Shane Gillis speaks at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. AP ESPN declined comment when reached by The Post. Among the topics that Gillis touched upon were Trump, Caitlin Clark, Aaron Rodgers and Jeffrey Epstein. The well-known comedian received mixed reactions during his eyebrow-raising opening remarks. Gillis asserted that women's soccer legend Megan Rapinoe was not a 'good time' in one of his first quips of the night and later joked that he and Clark, the WNBA superstar, had a lot in common because they were both 'whites from the Midwest who have nailed a bunch of 3s.' 3 Host Shane Gillis, top right, speaks at the ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. AP 'When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she's going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most, fist fighting black women,' he continued. In one of his most well-received jokes of the night, he aimed Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson after making a Shohei Ohtani joke related to his disgraced interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. 'A bookie is what Bill Belichick reads to his girlfriend before bedtime,' Gillis said on stage before launching into a list of crude titles for classic books. At least one former ESPNer didn't enjoy the show. 3 Nick Sirianni, Josh Sweat, Jalen Carter, and Jordan Mailata accept the Best Team Award from Druski and Shane Gillis onstage during the 2025 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 16, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images 'In a year of crazy growth for women's sports choosing an ESPYs host who doesn't even try to make clever jokes about women athletes (he at least *attempted* for the men),' Sarah Spain wrote on X on Thursday, 'he goes with hacky 'no one knows the WNBA' bits, 'Pinoe is a bad time' & repeatedly insults Black women. COOL.'
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Goodnight Boobs': Shane Gillis roasts Bill Belichick reads raunchy bedtime stories to 24-year-old girlfriend at ESPYs
Shane Gillis goes full roast mode on Belichick's romance—bedtime joke goes viral (Image via Jordon Hudson/Instagram) The ESPYs crowd thought they were in for a few sports jokes and some playful jabs. Then Shane Gillis grabbed the mic, and things took a wild turn. In what's already being called the boldest moment of the night, Gillis fired off a roast aimed squarely at Bill Belichick and yeah, it was about his much-younger girlfriend. The punchline? Children's books turned into risqué bedtime reads. And Twitter has not stopped talking about it since. Shane Gillis delivers a raunchy roast about Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend While most ESPYs hosts play it safe, Gillis? Not even close. He dove headfirst into the Bill Belichick-Jordon Hudson relationship drama, joking about what the couple reads before bed: 'A bookie is what Bill Belichick reads to his girlfriend before bedtime… They do The Very Horny Caterpillar, The Little Engine That Could But Needed a Pill First, and of course Good Night Boobs.' The line dropped like a bomb. The crowd let out a mix of gasps, laughs, and stunned silence. Gillis, of course, stood there grinning like he'd just pulled off the roast of the year. And honestly? He kind of did. The relationship already had people talking and this joke added gasoline to the fire Belichick, 73, started dating Jordon Hudson, 24, and the headlines haven't stopped since. Whether it's their public outings or the nearly 50-year age gap, people haven't been shy about offering opinions. Hudson, a former cheerleader and beauty pageant contestant, reportedly bonded with Belichick over philosophy books. That's right, philosophy. Naturally, the internet was quick to call it out, meme it, and dissect every photo. So when Gillis brought it up on ESPN's biggest night, he was poking at a controversy that was already simmering. Disney let this air? Gillis got away with it on ESPN The ESPYs air on ABC—a Disney-owned network. So when Shane Gillis dropped jokes that sounded more like they belonged in a Netflix special than primetime sports TV, fans were stunned. Think Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes but way more 'Did he really just say that?!' For a show that usually leans inspirational, Gillis brought pure chaos. And that bedtime story bit? Easily the most talked-about line of the night. And let's be real: The Little Engine That Could But Needed a Pill First ? That line alone deserves its own award. Also read - Shane Gillis roast of Shedeur Sanders at ESPYs goes viral: Was it a joke or a reality check? Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
