According to John Skipper, president of Walt Disney Co DIS’s ESPN, the company is in ongoing talks with Apple Inc. AAPL to provide an over-the-top subscription streaming service.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Skipper discussed ESPN’s talks with Apple to target younger customers via streaming content.
“They are creating a significantly advantageous operating system and a great television experience, and that television experience is fabulous for sports,” Skipper said of Apple. “We are big proponents of believing it would be a fabulous place to sell subscriptions. We have ongoing conversations.”
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If Apple’s streaming service is as good as Skipper seems to think it is, streaming market leader Netflix, Inc. NFLX could soon face a powerful new rival.
Although Skipper reiterated ESPN’s commitment to the pay TV model, live sports content has been viewed as a tipping point for streaming TV. At this point, the lack of live sports streaming subscription services remains a major justification for keeping a cable TV subscription.
Disclosure: the author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.
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