Amazon Reportedly in Talks with Disney for ESPN Streaming Service Partnership
Amazon is reportedly in discussions with Disney about potentially partnering with ESPN for its upcoming streaming service. There are talks of Amazon offering the service through Prime Video in the future. The possibility of Amazon acquiring a minority stake in ESPN is also being considered. However, these rumors should be taken with caution, as they come from an unverified source.
According to insiders, ESPN could charge a monthly fee ranging from $20 to $35 for its comprehensive streaming product. This would be a significant departure from the current ESPN Plus service, which only offers a limited selection of sports games and related content. The new streaming service aims to replicate the cable offering of ESPN.
Disney is actively seeking multiple partnerships for its streaming service, including deals with major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MBL. Additionally, the company is looking for a distribution partner in the tech or telecom industry. Amazon, along with Verizon and Apple, has expressed interest in collaborating with ESPN.
Analyst Dan Ives predicts that Apple may acquire ESPN within the next nine months, as live sports content is highly valuable to the company. However, other reports suggest a potential strategic partnership between Apple or Amazon and ESPN. It is important to note that Disney intends to retain control over ESPN.
While Amazon has not commented on these rumored talks, it is clear that the company is expanding its presence in the sports sphere. Amazon recently secured the rights to Thursday Night Football for the next decade.
Analysis: Potential Price Shock
One aspect of the report that has garnered attention is the potential subscription price for the ESPN streaming service. The rumored range of $20 to $35 per month has surprised many. It should be noted that these figures are speculative and subject to change as Disney and ESPN continue their discussions. However, if the service secures a significant amount of new content from leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MBL, the price could even exceed $35 per month. This has raised concerns among streaming fans, as it would be a substantial increase compared to current streaming options.
In conclusion, while the partnership between Amazon and Disney for the ESPN streaming service is still in the early stages, the potential pricing of the service has become a point of concern for consumers.