Disney News

Tag: espn

  • Colin Kaepernick Signs Production Deal with Disney

    Colin Kaepernick Signs Production Deal with Disney

    Colin Kaepernick has signed a first-look deal with Disney, which will include a docuseries focusing on his journey from playing for the 49ers to becoming an activist.

    The deal between Kaepernick’s production arm, Ra Vision Media, and The Walt Disney Co. was announced Monday. The partnership will focus on telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity. It also will provide a platform to showcase the work of directors and producers of color.

    “I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives,” Kaepernick said in a statement. “I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”

    Despite being exiled from the NFL since the 2016 season when he took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, Kaepernick still wants to play.

    A person close to the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback told The Associated Press that Kaepernick is in excellent shape and ready to play but hasn’t received any calls.

    Following the nationwide protests in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized to players for not listening to them earlier, encouraged them to protest peacefully and denounced racism.

    Kaepernick, who became the face of a Nike campaign in 2018, will work closely with The Undefeated, which is expanding its portfolio across Disney, to develop stories from the perspective of communities of color.

    His deal with The Walt Disney Co. will extend across all Disney platforms, including Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar and The Undefeated.

    “During this unprecedented time, The Walt Disney Co. remains committed to creating diverse and inclusive content that resonates and matters,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman. “Colin’s experience gives him a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, culture and race, which will undoubtedly create compelling stories that will educate, enlighten and entertain, and we look forward to working with him on this important collaboration.”

    The docuseries chronicling Kaepernick’s journey and his last five years is the first project in development.

    “Developing exceptional storytelling told through a wide array of voices is at the core of who we are at ESPN,” ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said. “Colin has had a singular path as both an athlete and an activist, and, as the nation continues to confront racism and social injustice, it feels particularly relevant to hear Colin’s voice on his evolution and motivations.”

  • Disney Launches Its Sports Streaming Service ESPN+ Today

    Disney Launches Its Sports Streaming Service ESPN+ Today

    Disney has taken its first step into the world of video streaming today with the launching of its new streaming video product ESPN+.

    The new ESPN App has been completely re-imagined experience and includes the seamless integration of ESPN+, the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer premium subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International group, in partnership with ESPN.

    ESPN+ is available for a seven-day free trial, followed by a subscription fee of just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with the ability to cancel at any time. During the first week of launch (April 12–18), fans are being offered a special extended 30-day free trial subscription backed by American Express.

    The innovative new app elevates the digital sports experience and becomes the premier, all-in-one digital sports platform for fans, giving them easy access to all of ESPN’s news, scores, analysis, video and audio content. With enhanced design and mobility in mind, the new ESPN app and ESPN+ are available across mobile and connected living room devices—with an optimized experience for each platform.

    “This next-generation app is ESPN’s most sophisticated and elegant digital product experience, and a central piece of our next era of innovation,” said James Pitaro, ESPN President and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks. “No one is in a better position than ESPN to serve sports fans. With this launch, fans will find a re-imagined, easy to use and increasingly personalized experience that puts all of ESPN’s incredible content at their fingertips like never before. With the exciting introduction of ESPN+, they’ll also get more sports content than ever, with direct access to thousands of live games, incredible original programs and an unmatched on-demand library, all at a great price.”

    On mobile devices, sports fans will enjoy a highly personalized content experience that begins on the home screen, which features a dynamic feed of relevant ESPN content and coverage—including scores, news, video clips, live events, statistics and more—that balances what is important to each individual fan and the most compelling content that ESPN knows sports fans need. The mobile app also offers three tiers of video access, all powered by BAMTECH Media’s best-in-class video platform: video clips and highlights for all users; “TV Everywhere Streaming” of live and on-demand content from ESPN’s U.S. linear and digital networks for pay TV subscribers; and ESPN+, for the direct-to-consumer streaming service’s subscribers.

    Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company, added, “The launch of ESPN+ marks a new era of innovation for The Walt Disney Company, defined by a direct and personal relationship with our consumers. This product reflects our new direct-to-consumer strategy focused on combining our incomparable brands and unmatched content with industry-leading technology to give users an unparalleled digital experience. With BAMTECH Media’s state-of-the-art video platform, ESPN+ delivers an incredible experience for fans with a rich slate of content only ESPN can deliver.”

    ESPN+, which is backed by American Express at launch, leverages BAMTECH Media’s video and commerce platform to offer fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ delivers an unparalleled programming lineup powered by four key pillars of content that includes live sports events from MLB, NHL, MLS, college sports, Top Rank Boxing, PGA Tour golf and more; high-quality original shows and films, including the 30 for 30 documentary “The Last Knight,” the first in the award-winning series to appear exclusively on ESPN+; exclusive studio programs, such as Detail, written, produced and hosted by NBA legend Kobe Bryant; and an unmatched on-demand library that includes the entire 30 for 30 archive, the best of ESPN’s award-winning newsmagazine program, E:60, and storytelling brand, SC Featured, and The Masters films, annual recaps of 57 years of The Masters, beginning with Arnold Palmer’s 1960 victory, and going right up until 2017.

    “For the launch of ESPN+, our focus has been on applying the innovations in direct-to-consumer technology we’ve built at BAMTECH over the years to create an all-new best-in-class consumer experience that brings sports fans more of the content they love, wherever, whenever they want,” added Michael Paull, President, BAMTECH Media. “ESPN+ launches with several exciting product features, including an upgraded HD stream quality to make the action crisper and cleaner, and decreased video load time, getting fans into the live action faster.”

    ESPN+ subscribers will receive app and streaming experience enhancements such as HD streaming; functionality that allows users to pause, rewind, restart and even multitask while streaming; limited advertising throughout the entire ESPN App or website; as well as the ability to also subscribe to additional premium streaming services like MLB.TV (and NHL.TV, beginning in 2018–19), all within the ESPN app environment.

    The new ESPN App delivers a unique experience to every fan, while also enabling meaningful curation and presentation from ESPN’s unmatched storytellers, journalists and content creators. The app’s new design delivers a rich, easy-to-use interface that enhances personalization and discoverability—presenting content in a myriad of ways to customize it to each individual fan. The powerful technological platform surfaces ESPN content based on favorite teams, sports and leagues, as well as ESPN’s award-winning journalism and personalities.

    The new ESPN App, which is presented at launch by Audi, delivers a dynamic and comprehensive sports streaming experience on digital living room devices, as well—including a dedicated ESPN+ section surfacing the best live, upcoming, on-demand and library content available to subscribers; as well as access to ESPN’s entire library of available on-demand content.

    The ESPN App with ESPN+ launches today on the following devices and platforms, with more to follow:

    • Amazon: Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV smart TVs and Fire Tablets (4th generation and newer)
    • Apple: iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. The ESPN App with ESPN+ will also be supported in the Apple TV App on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
    • Google: Android phones, Android TV and Chromecast
  • ESPN President John Skipper Resigns

    ESPN President John Skipper Resigns

    President of ESPN and co-chairman of the Disney Media Networks John Skipper resigned on Monday citing substance addiction. President of the company since 2012, Skipper recently signed a contract extension through 2021.

    While Disney chairman and chief executive Bob Iger seeks a replacement, George Bodenheimer, ESPN’s president from 1998 to 2011 and its executive chairman until May 2014, will take the reins for the next 90 days as acting chairman of the company.

    Skipper, 61, didn’t offer any details of the nature of his substance abuse problem, but in a statement said, “I come to this public disclosure with embarrassment, trepidation and a feeling of having let others I care about down.” He continued, “As I deal with this issue and what it means to me and my family, I ask for appropriate privacy and a little understanding.”

    To many at ESPN the announcement came as a quite a surprise after his recent contact extension. He had been trying to get the company back on track and pave the way forward amidst a rapidly decreasing number of cable subscribers and a declining interest in professional sports. Not to mention his help would have been instrumental in helping Disney integrate the various Fox sports assets they will be acquiring.

    Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, the parent company of ESPN, said he would join Skipper’s “many friends and colleagues across the company in wishing him well during this challenging time.”