Disney CEO Bob Iger: We believe the new app will ‘contribute nicely' to ESPN's bottom line over time

Direct-to-Consumer Transition - ESPN officially launches its direct-to-consumer streaming service for $30 per month [1] - The launch includes 12 networks available directly to consumers, featuring 47,000 live events [2] - The company views this as a defining moment for sports consumption in the digital age, emphasizing personalization and interactivity through an enhanced ESPN app [2][3] - ESPN considers this launch one of its biggest days, aiming to serve sports fans anytime, anywhere [4] Strategic Shift & Measurement of Success - Disney initiated a pivot towards digital and app-based direction following observations of erosion in traditional television bundles [6] - The company is now agnostic between linear and digital television, managing them holistically [9][10] - Success will be measured by the overall performance of the sports business, not solely on subscriber numbers for the new service [8][11] - The company believes focusing on subscriber numbers is irrelevant, emphasizing the positive impact on shareholders and fans [12] Bundling and Content Strategy - ESPN aims to provide everything to sports fans, acknowledging that the new service may not cover 100% of sports content [13] - The company emphasizes evaluating total subscriptions, including traditional paid television and digital MVPDs [14] - Sports fans, especially younger ones, are comfortable with multiple apps and creating their own bundles [15] - The company offers bundles like the Disney bundle at $29.99 per year (including ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu) and bundles with NFL Plus Premium and Fox [16]