1 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, co editor in chief of Variety Today. My 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: guest is ESPN chairman Jimmy Petero. As head coach of 5 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: the worldwide Leader, Petero lives at the intersection of media, 6 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: entertainment and technology as much as any executive in the 7 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,959 Speaker 1: global television business. Sports drive so much of the pay 8 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: TV sector that is so central to Hollywood earnings, and 9 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: like everything else, sports on TV is going through quite 10 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: a transformation. Potero was kind enough to spend the morning 11 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 1: after this year's sp Awards with Variety in Beverly Hills. 12 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: He was a featured speaker at our invitation only Sports 13 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: and Entertainment breakfast presented by City National Bank. I'd never 14 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: interviewed Potero for I was impressed. He spoke with real confidence, 15 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: without much advanced preparation at all. He wasn't afraid to 16 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,639 Speaker 1: say that he can't predict the future. We talked about 17 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: ESPN and its runway as a linear platform. We talked 18 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: about the upcoming NBA TV rights negotiations, and we got 19 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: into how ESPN is adjusting to a world of younger 20 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: sports fans who follow individual players more than they follow teams. 21 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: He was game to engage and that made for a 22 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: lively conversation. That's all coming up after the break, and 23 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: we're back with the conversation with ESPN chief Jimmy Potero. 24 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:51,559 Speaker 1: First off, thank you for inviting me here today. It's great. Uh, 25 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: this is a really busy week for us. We Uh. 26 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: We started off on Sunday with an event tied to 27 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: uh The Captain, which is a docuseries we're doing on 28 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: Derek Jeter that actually premiered episode one on Monday night. Uh. 29 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: Then Monday night we had the home run derby. Tuesday 30 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: night we had our coverage of the All Star Game, 31 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: and then yes, last night we had the SPS and 32 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: it was It was fantastic. If you haven't had a 33 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: chance to see it, you really should. There were some 34 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: really special moments, and we talk a lot about the 35 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: power of sports, UH, and I think you saw that 36 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: on display, excuse me last night with some really emotional moments, 37 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: some powerful speeches, UH. Kind of striking the balance between 38 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: celebrating athletes and teams, but also recognizing what's happening in 39 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: the world. And I think are Are are producing team 40 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,519 Speaker 1: did a really nice job they did, as did Steph Curry, 41 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: your host. He was fantastic. Uh. He did not seem 42 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: nervous at all. I was with him right before the 43 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: event and he was as calm as can be. Uh. 44 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: And yeah, I thought he did a fantastic opening, and 45 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: I thought he really kept it going. And I did 46 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: appreciate the call out to Title nine and the gains 47 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,519 Speaker 1: that women athletes have made, because that that that doesn't 48 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: excuse me, feels very historic and very groundbreaking and important 49 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 1: important for the entire industry, as as pay equity is 50 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: at other sectors. But but sports is such a high 51 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: profile place for you, right and and so Rich just 52 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: just commented on the momentum behind women's sports, and we 53 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: could spend this entire time just talking about that. But 54 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: what I will say is for the month of June, 55 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: we really dedicated ourselves to UH celebrating the fiftieth anniversary 56 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: of the passing of Title nine, and so we launched 57 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: a product, a campaign that we called UM fifty fifty. 58 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: It was kind of a nod to thirty for thirty 59 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: where we created a bunch of stories. The initial the 60 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: initial spirit was let's create fifty stories to celebrate the 61 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: passing of Title nine on its fiftieth anniversary. But it 62 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: extended well beyond fifty stories. We had law enform films, 63 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: we had docuseries, we had short form content, and it 64 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: was really just celebrating women's sports. And we take a 65 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: lot of pride in that. It's meaningful to have it 66 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: be that part of that big of a part of 67 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: an event like the SPS. Yes, let's talk about so 68 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: we have been with this event is talking about the 69 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: intersection of sports and entertainment. Sports is definitely entertainment these days, 70 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: but sports at its heart is also is sports. It's games, 71 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: it's competition, it's athletic excellence. How as you program the 72 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: ESPN metaverse these days, on linear, on podcasts, on so 73 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:47,679 Speaker 1: many different platforms, streaming, how do you balance the need 74 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: for entertainment, for storytelling, for that entertainment factor with the 75 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: core audience that wants to see balls being hit, balls 76 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: being thrown, that that wants that game aspect. How do 77 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: you how do you bound those two things. Some of 78 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: the best drama on television is taking place, at least 79 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: in my opinion, within stadiums and within arenas, and it's 80 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: our job to capture that, to cover it, UH, to 81 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: really um UH present it to to to hardcore and 82 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: also to casual sports fans in an exemplary fashion. And 83 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: so that is live events, of course, but it's also 84 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: our original films, and as I said before, our docuseries 85 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: are short form video. On the live events side, we 86 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: continuously challenge ourselves to not be satisfied, to innovate. I 87 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: think one of the best examples that you're seeing play 88 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: out right now real time is our partnership with Major 89 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: League Baseball and the MLB players, where we're putting mikes 90 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: on players. And we we have a long history of 91 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: putting mikes on players in the spirit of of getting 92 00:05:55,560 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 1: access to players, presenting um access to our fans. But 93 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: what we're doing this year UH is presenting UH that 94 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: that experience live. So we actually have players having two 95 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: way conversations with the folks in our booth live during games, which, 96 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: of course I'm sure you're all thinking that that's risky. 97 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: If if a player is speaking with our booth and 98 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: the groundballs hit to the first basement and he makes 99 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: an error, that wouldn't be a great look for him 100 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 1: or for us. So so we're we're we recognize that, 101 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: but my job is to weigh the pros and cons 102 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: of this. And look, I have two teenagers at home. 103 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: I think one of our top priorities at ESPN are 104 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: in the sports industry is appealing to a younger demographic. 105 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: And so when I pressure test this with my kids 106 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: at home, if they're watching a nine aating baseball game, 107 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: they're multitasking. But when they have a when when they 108 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: see a MIC on a player or they hear a 109 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: MIC on a player and they're getting that access, they're 110 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: all in, Like they will stop, put their phones down, 111 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: and they are completely invested in those couple of innings 112 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: were we're presenting that access. So again, the macro point 113 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: that I'm making is just innovation and and we take 114 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: a lot of pride in that in terms of in 115 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: terms of advancing sports in general. I'm wondering if you 116 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: have also invested in delay technology because the candid comments 117 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: that might fly, and well, well, look that that is, 118 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: in all honesty, that is how it started. So we 119 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: would put mikes on players and then we would have 120 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: guys uh in in trucks uh not just from ESPN, 121 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: but from the league that would look at everything and 122 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: then we'd get the green light on what to air 123 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: later in the broadcast. That's not what's what We're still 124 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: doing some of that. But the MLB example that I 125 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: just gave to you, it is live, so and and 126 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: and again, as a result, it's much more authentic. Obviously, 127 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: the audience knows it's live and and they're interested to 128 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: hear what these what these players are authentically going to say. 129 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: It is bringing Again, it's the power of like bringing 130 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: us even further into the game than we could have 131 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: even conceived of you. Yeah, and so that that is 132 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: the challenge, not just for ESPN again, but for the 133 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: sports industry. How do we how do we continue to 134 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: make these games, make these athletes more interesting? You know, 135 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: one of the pieces of research that we've seen, and 136 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: it's almost cliche to say, I'm sure many of you 137 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: have heard this, but the younger generation, especially today, is 138 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: more invested in players than they are in teams. You know, 139 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: when I was when I was a kid, I was 140 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: a Yankee. I still am Yankees, Giants, Knicks, Rangers. My 141 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,439 Speaker 1: kids are more fans of the players, and so, okay, 142 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: got it. We have to be providing more access to 143 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: these players. And by the way, Mike's on players is 144 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: just one example, there's a long list. Do you think 145 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: that that is a result maybe the prevalence of fantasy 146 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: sports people are so used to picking their great point. Actually, 147 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 1: hadn't thought about that that dynamic, But it's a great point, 148 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: I'd say without a doubt the answer is yes, because 149 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 1: fantasy sports uh is up into the right, continues to 150 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:02,719 Speaker 1: grow you, over you and encourages you to look at 151 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: the excuse me um it is. That's a great segue 152 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: to another question for you. You know, ESPN has so 153 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: many platforms linear streaming, but I know that you all 154 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: are very creative. You all. Social media is such a 155 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: platform for you. The way you talk to your fans, 156 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: the way you the way you talk to your viewers, 157 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: the way you talk to fans, just on so many levels. 158 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: Talk about how I mean social media truly is. ESPN 159 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: seems to be one of those companies that really gets 160 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: that social media is not you just don't take content 161 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: and put it on social media. You craft content for 162 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: social media. How how is how are you integrating that 163 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: into your business? Well? Thank you for recognizing that. Uh, 164 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: your right. We have a dedicated social media team, and 165 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: they don't just take a sports center clip and throw 166 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 1: it up on social We actually have dedicated sports center 167 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: programming for for example, Snap, you have as of last night, 168 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: excuse me as a last night, you have twenty four 169 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: point eight million followers on tikiktok. So, by the way, 170 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: we are the number three brand, not sports brand, but 171 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: number three brand on TikTok. Were of course the number 172 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: one sports media brand on on TikTok. But in general, 173 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: the the the prioritization of social media has been an 174 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: important conversation at ESPNN and at the Walt Disney Company. 175 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 1: So there are some folks who believe that we should 176 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: invest all of our resources in our own and operated 177 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: properties like ESPN dot com or ESPN app, ESPN Plus. 178 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: I'm not one of them. Uh, Unfortunately I get to 179 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: make this decision. But we we decided many years we 180 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: by the way, Bob is completely aligned with me on this. Uh. 181 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 1: We made this decision many years ago that we would 182 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: invest resources, invest people, talent in social media and so 183 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: the ideas that create a rising tide, the ideas we 184 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: have to be open. We can't be naive here and 185 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: expect that all people, especially younger people, are going to 186 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: just come to ESPN dot com or to our app. 187 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: We need to be We serve the sports fan anytime, anywhere. 188 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: That's our mission, and so the anywhere component is important. 189 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: We need to be on Instagram, we need to be 190 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: on TikTok, we need to be on Snap and and 191 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: we are. And so look, I I actually spend a 192 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: lot of time on on social platforms. My kids do, 193 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: and and and I do is one we we oftentimes 194 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: do it together. And I will tell you as I'm 195 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: scrolling through, I often test, and I don't look at 196 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: where the content is coming from. I'll watch the sports 197 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: content and I can tell what's coming from ESPN and 198 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: what is not in the sports category. And what is 199 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: coming from ESPN is content that has substance, but it 200 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: also has heart and or some humor, and that is 201 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: ESPN at its best. I mean, growing up watching Sports Center, substance, heart, humor. 202 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: When when when we now all three of those, we're 203 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: getting it right. And that's that's what I remember about watching, 204 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: you know, Dan Patrick on Sports Center with Keith Oberman. 205 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: They were funny, They delivered the sports news but they 206 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: were funny, they had personality, they had character. If you 207 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: look at what we're doing on social it's it's all 208 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: of that, but but mostly loaded with heart and and 209 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: so for me, that's a brand deposit for me. That 210 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: and last thing i'd say, because I'm sure you probably 211 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 1: have to move on here, but I'm passionate about this 212 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: topic is what what what? What I've heard, what I've 213 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: seen from our research and what I've heard anecdotally from 214 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: our employees, from friends, from family. When I'm speaking at 215 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: conferences and folks come up to me afterwards, what I've 216 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: heard is, Hey, I was introduced to ESPN on Instagram 217 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: and now I'm watching ESPN on television And so for that, like, okay, 218 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: it's working. Like that is the strategy that have to 219 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: expanding your reach being and the people that are gonna 220 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: come to you for a game are gonna come to 221 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: you for sports center? Correct? That's um. Do you do you? 222 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: Now there's a very old school question, but do you 223 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: actually does social drive tune in? Do you can? You? 224 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: Can you deploy it in a way if you lay 225 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: the seeds, can you drive people to you know, not 226 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: the sps because that's a big event, but like a 227 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: documentary or something, can you track it like a couple 228 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: of things. First off, we do not look at social 229 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: media as marketing. A lot of people get confused. We 230 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: are not on social media to market another product on 231 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: live television. We are on social media to provide a 232 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 1: compelling sports consumption experience. However, we have done the research 233 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: and so this isn't just speculation or our hope on 234 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: my part. We've seen it from the data. When people 235 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: are engaged with our content with our brands on social media, 236 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: they are much more likely to consume our content on 237 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: our owns and operated platforms, including linear television. But it's 238 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: we appreciate because everybody in this room is dealing with 239 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 1: the impact of social media in some form or another. Okay, 240 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 1: I cannot let you off the stage without talking about 241 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: the Manning's alternate cast. That was the hit of last 242 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: year's football season. With apologies to Tampa Bay, but that 243 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: was the hit of last year's football season. Tell me 244 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: how did that come about? And tell me when did 245 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: you know you had something? Was it three minutes in? 246 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: Five minutes in? Because it was as a as a 247 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: recently converted football fan, as I said earlier, it was 248 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: so fun, such a fun way to watch the games. 249 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: So I I spent many years uh recruiting Peyton, but 250 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: recruiting Peyton for our primary booth, and for a variety 251 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: of reasons, we just never quite got there. Pandemic hit 252 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: uh Peyton, any like I saw what we were doing. 253 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: This was mentioned before by Rich but and by you, 254 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: but we were pretty scrappy in terms of our production, 255 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: our innovation covering games from home virtually the the NFL 256 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: Draft is a great example, but also Roger's basement, Roger's basement, 257 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: but also acquiring rights like Korean Baseball where we had 258 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: broadcasters calling games from their basements, and so folks saw 259 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: that we could do this right, you could actually do 260 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: a broadcast remotely, and and so that kind of spawned 261 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: a conversation between me and Peyton where we said, Okay, 262 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: maybe maybe we've been thinking about this all wrong, like 263 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: let's let's let's let's shake it up. And then long 264 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: story short, Peyton came back and said, I'd like to 265 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: do this with my brother. I'm a Giants fan. So 266 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: that was that wasn't a tough conversation. And of course 267 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: I've had seen their dynamic. They had actually done a 268 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: This is Sports Center commercial for ESPN that was off 269 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: the charts great. From that commercial, you could see the 270 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: chemistry between the two of them, and so yes, we 271 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: absolutely caught Lightning in a bottle. That was to your question, 272 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: when did we know that it was going to be 273 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: a hit? It was definitely within minutes of the first broadcast. 274 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: But you had to be a little when it when 275 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: it first started, you had to be were you a 276 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: little bit like holding your breath? You didn't. So, so 277 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: I will tell you I don't think I've ever said 278 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: this publicly, but I was at ah. I was at 279 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: a screening for a episode one of a docuseries that 280 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: we did on the New York Mets called Once Upon 281 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: a Time in Queens, And so I was sitting in 282 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: the audience at this screening when it aired for the 283 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: first time. And you know, it was hard because I'm 284 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: I want to be really invested in this and it's 285 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: a brilliant docuseries. But I'm checking my phone for feedback 286 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: from from from friends and family. But by the way, 287 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: I come from a hardcore sports family. My sister is 288 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: actually the General Council of Major League Baseball. So we 289 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: we grew up in a in a in a house 290 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: where sports was always on. So I get hardcore, like 291 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: authentic feedback from my family, and so I was checking 292 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: and I knew within ten minutes, uh that that we 293 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: were onto something that's as sports fans again, it was 294 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: just such a It became such a fun and it 295 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: was something that you could watch the regular game and 296 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,399 Speaker 1: flip or and and then catch up with the whole 297 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: Mann and cast. Let me ask you, so, let let 298 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: me just on that, let me let me do that 299 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: is what our data is showing that, you know, because folks, 300 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 1: folks have heard all of the press on Peyton and Eli, 301 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 1: but really what we're seeing is that it's rising hide. 302 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 1: Most of the people who are watching ESPN two with 303 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: Peyton Eli are flipping back and forth right there, watching 304 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: some of the primary booth and they're going back to 305 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 1: Peyton and Eli. And that's fantastic for us. We actually 306 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: pool the rating. When we report out the rating, it's 307 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: it's one rating. Our sales team is selling, you know, 308 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:48,360 Speaker 1: one one experience across ESPN one and ESPN two. Curious 309 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 1: when you when you were going forward with the Manning cast, 310 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: is that something did you have to get the NFL's 311 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: blessing for that to use it absolutely for all that 312 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: money you pay and they stiff Yeah, I mean, look, 313 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: I don't know. Here, Here's what I'd say, in all honesty, 314 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: I don't know contractually if we needed to, but we 315 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: have a fantastic relationship with our lead partners, and we 316 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: wouldn't We wouldn't do anything like that without making sure 317 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 1: that that they're on board. Is that's not that's not 318 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: a long term strategy to just look at the contract 319 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: and say, well, we can do this. By the way, 320 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: maybe the contract did require their approval. I don't know, 321 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: but yeah, I spoke to you know, Roger and the 322 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: senior executives at at the NFL, and they love the idea. 323 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: Any can you give us any hints about what we'll 324 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: see for the second round of it this coming year? 325 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: Just more of the same. I mean, look, the technology 326 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: will continue to try to improve. Some people have noticed 327 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 1: the fact that you know, you have folks that there's 328 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 1: a delay, So sometimes they're talking over each other because 329 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: of the delay. Actually, when I've pressure tested that and 330 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: talked to the younger audiences, they don't mind that because 331 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: its charm exactly with them. Talking over each other exactly, 332 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: and and and the part of the authenticity of the 333 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: whole experience. But you know, we're looking at the number 334 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: of guests because Peyton and Eli they're they're so magical 335 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: together again, the chemistry. How many guests do we really need? 336 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: We will continue to have guests, but we're looking at 337 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: the number of guests. But the producers on the Omaha 338 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 1: Omaha side, Jamie Harrowitz is fantastic company, Peyton's company exactly. 339 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: And then on our side, Stephanie Julian Lee fitting like 340 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: they're they're all over. This is a huge priority. Now 341 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: all eyes are on this. And by the way, it's 342 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: not just it's not just Monday Night with Peyton and Eli. 343 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 1: We now are doing it with Major League Baseball with 344 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez, which is also a hit 345 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: for us. Will Peyton and Eili beat together this season? 346 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: This past season, I believe they were. I mean, look, 347 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: could we have an episode or two where they are together? 348 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: I suppose, But that's not the plan. We'll take a 349 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:46,719 Speaker 1: quick time out here and be back in a flash 350 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: with more from ESPN leader Jimmy Potero. And we're back 351 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: with more from the guy in charge of the guy 352 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 1: is who have all the fun ESPN Chairman Jimmy Petero. 353 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: Let's look inward a little bit and talk about I 354 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: know culture is important to you. You took, oh, you 355 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: took the reins of ESPN in which I think would 356 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: you know, would fairly be described. It was a tough 357 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: time for the company. Your predecessor had had a very 358 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: public struggle with a very very difficult disease that that 359 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: is permeating all of our society. Had to had to 360 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 1: address that in a very public way, and so you 361 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: came in at a time when the company was going 362 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: through a very unprecedented situation. And by the way, there's 363 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: a lot going on in the media business right now, 364 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: a lot of transition. Talk about what you know, what 365 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: what it was that that that got you there? You 366 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: think in terms of that that that uh you know, 367 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: excuse me, that what got you there, in terms of 368 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: getting the job at Disney you were at the time 369 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: you've been running um consumer products, and also just talk 370 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: about the kind of culture that you've been trying to 371 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: build there. I had the good fortune of sitting around 372 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: the Disney leadership table for seven years before I got 373 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: the job at ESPN, and then before that, I competed 374 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: against ESPN. I I was over at Yahoo Sports, and 375 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: we woke up every day and said, how do we 376 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 1: beat ESPN? Uh? And that was in part because ESPN 377 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 1: was leading in terms of digital but also in part 378 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: because I knew a lot of the folks at ESPN 379 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: and I admired the culture. You use the word culture 380 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: before I really admired it, uh. And what I saw 381 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: on the outside looking in is a culture of hard 382 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: work and a culture of not really uh, focusing on 383 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,120 Speaker 1: any one individual. My whole life has been team sports, 384 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: and I loved team sports, and I try to bring 385 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: that spirit in that environment to my job every day. 386 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: And I saw that at ESPN, where I almost never 387 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: heard anyone use the word my. It was always our 388 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 1: or we there's also thing as my team or my 389 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: Panol was more of like, we're all in this together, 390 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: let's have each other's backs. And that was an environment 391 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 1: that I tried to replicate at Yahoo. And then when 392 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,920 Speaker 1: I got to Disney, same thing. I was first hired 393 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: on the Disney interactive side and then yes, we merged 394 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: interacted with consumer products, and I had I had the 395 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 1: good fortune of for years, the first couple of years 396 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: sitting right next to George Bodenheimer at Bob Iger's senior 397 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 1: staff meeting, long time ahead of ahead of ESPN yep. 398 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: And then when George stepped down, I sat next to 399 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: John Skipper for many years. The point that I'm making 400 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: is that I had a foundation. I competed against the ESPN, 401 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: and then I was partnered with ESPN as a Walt 402 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,160 Speaker 1: Disney Company executive. So when I when I got this job, 403 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: I was I don't want to say I was ready 404 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: to go, but I had I had a foundation to 405 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 1: build off of. And yes, the culture at this place. 406 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: I take zero credit for a culture at ESPN, but 407 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: that culture continues to exist today, which is, you know, 408 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: work ethic, treating people with respect. I have a poster 409 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: in my office and it says work hard and be 410 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: nice to people. And I don't you know, obviously you 411 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: need some kind of basic talent, but putting that aside, 412 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: it's you work hard and and and be nice to people. 413 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 1: I think if you can check those two boxes, you're 414 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: gonna do fine at ESPN. You're not gonna go wrong, 415 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 1: that's for sure. Is it true that in your first 416 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: meeting or one of your first meetings with Bob. You 417 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: said in two you said, I'd really like to run ESPN. 418 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: So when I was I was very happy at Yahoo. 419 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 1: I had no plans on leaving at a great job, 420 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: a ton of variety, working with great people. And then yes, 421 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 1: I got a call asking me if I if I'd 422 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 1: be interested in in leaving. I said no. Then they 423 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: called back and they said, well will you will you 424 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 1: meet with Bob? I said yes, and and we we 425 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: spent some time together, and uh yeah, he I can't 426 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: remember if he brought it up. He obviously knew my 427 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: background of Yahoo's four by the way, I left this out, 428 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: but we did get to a point where Yahoo Sports 429 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: was beating ESPN. So you know, when I sat down 430 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: with Bob, we did talk about that. That was a 431 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: component of the conversation. But yes, we whether he raised 432 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: it or I I raised it, the idea was at 433 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,199 Speaker 1: some point I would I would move over to the 434 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 1: ESPN side, and then seven years later it happened. That's 435 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 1: a good example of visualizing what you want to happen. Um, 436 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: let's talk about you know, in some ways and when 437 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 1: I watch ESPN now, I'm always seeing the pitch for 438 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: the Disney bundle ESPN Plus Disney Disney plus Hulu. In 439 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 1: some ways, ESPN is integrated into Disney more than it 440 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: ever has been before. What has ESPN Plus and the 441 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: and being part of this sort of newly forming bundle, 442 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: what has that done for your business? Well, first off, 443 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: again bringing this back to the first point about reaching 444 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: a younger audience, ESPN Plus is obviously a huge component 445 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: of that. It's a younger audience than than what we 446 00:24:56,680 --> 00:25:00,919 Speaker 1: see on television, and it's working. ESPN is working this 447 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 1: idea of running parallel pass where we're continuing to invest 448 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 1: in a linear television business that by the way, has 449 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: been really really good to us and continues to be 450 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: really really good to us and really profitable, continuing to 451 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 1: acquire rights and invest in that platform, and at the 452 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: same time acquire rights and invest in a director consumer 453 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: platform ESPN Plus. It's it's working. We we when we 454 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,919 Speaker 1: acquire rights. We've been on a terror for the past 455 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,640 Speaker 1: two years during the pandemic of acquiring rights, and we've 456 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 1: acquired rights for every deal that we've done has a 457 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: linear component and a director consumer ESPN Plus component. And 458 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,160 Speaker 1: so fast forward to today or fast forward to the 459 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 1: last earnings call that we did, we announced twenty two 460 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: point three million subscribers for ESPN. That was drastically ahead 461 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: of plan for us. So we couldn't be more pleased 462 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: with how the product is going for us. That the 463 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: technology is is sound, it's stable, it's not crashing, the 464 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: user experien arians is positive. Obviously we can always get better, 465 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,679 Speaker 1: but we take a lot of pride in the user experience, 466 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 1: and you know, we're we're we're excited by the way 467 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: the foundation is now built. So I'm assuming that that 468 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: one of your questions will be I'm just gonna get 469 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:17,119 Speaker 1: ahead of this flagship, our flagship channel. When is it 470 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: going to be taken direct to consumer right here? Actually, 471 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: before that, I want to ask you, I do want 472 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,359 Speaker 1: your answer to that, But I also does linear I mean, 473 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: I think the answer to this is yes, But where 474 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:31,679 Speaker 1: does linear ESPN plateau? Is it fifty million homes? Is 475 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 1: it forty million homes? In terms of old school people 476 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: paying for cable that get easy? I don't know. I hate, 477 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: I hate to not answer your question. I don't have 478 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: a crystal ball. I don't know. Uh. What I will 479 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: tell you is that as I sit here right now, 480 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: that business is still incredibly again serve the sports fan 481 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,919 Speaker 1: anytime anywhere. I know a ton of people that still 482 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: want ESPN in that traditional ecosystem. So if and when 483 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: the time comes that we make ESPN flagship available director 484 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,439 Speaker 1: consumer meaning a la carte, meaning you can just go 485 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: out and buy only ESPN, even when that point comes, 486 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,880 Speaker 1: we will continue to be present in the traditional ecosystem 487 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 1: so that if you want to buy it through Comcast 488 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: or direct TV, you will be able to. I think 489 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: there's there's this perception in the industry that there's gonna 490 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 1: come a point in time or where we flip the 491 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: switch and just poured it over. That's not that's not 492 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 1: the plan. Well, it seems like, you know, when you 493 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: say ESPN to ESPN, they're more porous than ever before, 494 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 1: even on the linear side I think of I was 495 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: I wasn't thinking that I was flipping to ESPN too 496 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:39,959 Speaker 1: so much as to watch the Manning cast, as I 497 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: was just flipping to that other channel the larger ESPN ecosystem. Alright, 498 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: time is short, and I am going to do something. 499 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna take advantage of here. With apologies to 500 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: Tony Kornheiser and MICROI Wilbon. We're gonna try to do 501 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 1: a little p T I problem. Okay, it will be 502 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:00,359 Speaker 1: flattered to hear that we did this. I got. I 503 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,159 Speaker 1: do not miss it. They make me laugh. They are 504 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: so funny. I just love that. That to me is 505 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 1: that ESPN rye humor Internet. By the way, that that's 506 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: part of the foundation of ESPN. That show and the 507 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,360 Speaker 1: ratings continue to to ride. I wish I had brought 508 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:16,440 Speaker 1: a bell and if I had thought about it. Okay, 509 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 1: So as we sit here in Beverly Hills, Big ten, 510 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 1: pack twelve U C L A U s C. What's 511 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 1: going on? Yeah, Look, it's an incredibly complicated time. The 512 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 1: good news for us is that we have a great 513 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: position in college football or college sports in general, a 514 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: huge part of our DNA at ESPN. I think most 515 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 1: people think about us through the lens of professional sports, 516 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:42,360 Speaker 1: but college sports is, you know, in part how we 517 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: define ourselves. Uh. We just closed to deal with the 518 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: SEC not just about a year ago, maybe a little 519 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 1: more than that, where we acquired um fifteen additional games, 520 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: the first pick every every Saturday that kicks in four. 521 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 1: We have great relationship with the a c C. We 522 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 1: have exclusivity there Um, we have exclusivity with the a C. Anyway, 523 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: we have we have a really good portfolio of rights 524 00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 1: in terms of where things are going to settle in 525 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: the college landscape. Don't again, I don't have a crystal ball. 526 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: I don't have an answer. I will tell you we 527 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: don't engage in those conversations. We do not engage in 528 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:22,720 Speaker 1: those conversations schools leaving a conference, going to another conference. 529 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,239 Speaker 1: That's not what we do. What we do. What I 530 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 1: do is say to a conference commissioner, when you have clarity, 531 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: when you are ready to discuss you know the makeup 532 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: of your conference, and in a partnership with ESPN, we're ready, 533 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: and it's geographical boundaries. Well but but again that's up 534 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: to them. That's up that's up to them. Once they 535 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 1: have the clarity, we will sit down with them and 536 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: engage on in a discussion on rights. Got all right? 537 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 1: Ding what happens with the end? What happens with the 538 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: NBA in two years the rights are up, So we 539 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: have three seasons left. Uh, but but you're right in 540 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: that probably you know two years from now you really 541 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: get into it. Huge part of ESPN the NBA not 542 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 1: but by the way, in terms of the earlier point, 543 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 1: ABC has the finals. So it's not just ESPN, it's 544 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 1: ABC as well. UM, very very important. Uh. We we 545 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:16,959 Speaker 1: take a lot of pride in in the past season 546 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 1: in terms of our studio programming. NBA today is fantastic 547 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: NBA countdown. Our ratings were up double digit percentages for 548 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 1: the playoffs and the finals. Um, this is an important 549 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:28,479 Speaker 1: property for for ESPN and ABC. We want to keep 550 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 1: it going here. We we want to extend with the league. 551 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 1: I'll put that out there without any hesitation, right ding. 552 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 1: Last one, how much do you think that content personalization 553 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 1: for people crafting their own sports schedules? How much is 554 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: that important to ESPNS future? So look when we we 555 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:50,360 Speaker 1: we talked before about flagship ESPN and when is that 556 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 1: going to uh be uh presented direct to consumer? As 557 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: a component of that, it's we have to ask ourselves 558 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: what's that next gen sports experience? Which it's it's it's 559 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 1: not just taking our channel and making it available direct, 560 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: it's what's the experience around that. Can you tap on 561 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:10,240 Speaker 1: a player and get stats around Matthew Stafford's you know, 562 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: dropping back? Can you tap on him and see his 563 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 1: stats for the game. Can you tap on Matthew Stafford 564 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 1: and buy his jersey? Can you tap on somewhere in 565 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 1: the screen and place a bet with within the game. 566 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,080 Speaker 1: Those are the kinds of things that we're thinking about 567 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 1: in terms of the next gen ESPN sports experience. Great, well, 568 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: we're gonna have to come back because we could do 569 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: a whole happf an hour about sports betting. But Jimmy, 570 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 1: thank you so much for your time and being game. 571 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 1: Really appreciate it. Thank you so much, Thank you for 572 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 1: having me. Thank you all right, thanks for listening. Be 573 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: sure to leave us a review at Apple Podcast. We 574 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:53,320 Speaker 1: love to hear from listeners. Please go to Variety dot 575 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 1: com to sign up for the free Strictly Business newsletter, 576 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 1: and don't forget to tune in next week for another 577 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:08,600 Speaker 1: episode Strictly Business Seething Things.