Did ESPN Just Kill Cable TV?

ESPN's new service, which will cost $30 per month, could speed up the demise of the cable TV industry.

May 15, 2025

ESPN’s DTC Service Could Speed Up Cable TV Industry Erosion
Both ESPN and the rest of the TV industry “know there are people who might stop getting cable TV once they can just get ESPN” on the company’s DTC streaming service, according to Peter Kafka of BUSINESS INSIDER. Disney has to “maintain in public that it’s really interested” in targeting consumers who “don’t pay for cable TV,” but “love sports.” But the new service, which will cost $30 per month, “could help speed up the erosion of the cable TV industry.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

NFL’s Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones and Cowboys Cheerleaders Headline Netflix’s Sports Pitch
SBJ’s Mollie Cahillane writes, “One of the newest entrants to upfront week, Netflix hosted its event at the Perelman Performing Arts Center on Wednesday afternoon in New York City, unveiling its two NFL Christmas Day matchups and an expanding slate of sports programming.

“[Commissioner Roger] Goodell donned a red Santa Claus coat for the reveal, saying that ‘last year, viewers in 218 countries watched our first-ever worldwide distribution of an NFL game, two games on Christmas Day, on this great service. It’s not just about the games themselves. Netflix has always done a great job of taking you behind-the-scenes with some of the biggest stars and the most successful teams in the league. And this year, they’re going to do it again.’”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Lightning Taking Local Telecasts Over-the-Air With Scripps
The Lightning are taking their local telecasts to a Scripps-owned broadcast station in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area after electing to end their deal with FanDuel Sports Network owner Main Street Sports Group. The team is the fourth in the NHL to partner with Scripps -- joining the Golden Knights, Panthers and Mammoth -- and the seventh of the league’s 25 U.S.-based teams to depart the RSN ecosystem.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Alexis Ohanian Buys Stake in Chelsea’s Women’s Soccer Team
“I’ve bet big on women’s sports before — and I’m doing it again,” he wrote. “I’m honored for the chance to help this iconic club become America’s favorite (Women’s Super League) team and much, much more.”

Ohanian was a founding investor of Angel City FC in Los Angeles in the National Women’s Soccer League.
^{AP News}

Sun Exploring Investment in Team, Not Full Sale
Connecticut Sun President Jennifer Rizzotti on Tuesday confirmed a report that the Mohegan Tribe, owners of the Sun, have hired an investment bank firm to “explore options regarding the team’s future,” though Rizzotti said that the team “is not for sale.” She instead noted the tribe is “‘exploring options’ regarding its investment of the franchise.” By hiring an investment bank firm, the tribe “can evaluate the franchise’s financial worth before making any official decisions on potential next steps.”
^{New Haven Register via Sports Business Journal}

As WNBA popularity Soars, Player Salaries Remain a Big Hurdle for the League to Address
AP News’ Alanis Thames writes, “As the league booms, players are looking for a larger share in that growth. WNBA players currently earn only a small fraction of the league’s revenue share. Player salaries have been a longstanding point of contention between the NBA — which owns about 60% of the WNBA and leads CBA negotiations — and women’s basketball players. It’s one of the biggest financial hurdles the league still faces, and players have said they’re willing to sit out games if negotiations don’t lead to a pay structure they feel is fair.”
^{AP News}

Philadelphia Flyers Hire Rick Tocchet as Coach, Turning to Alum to End Their Playoff Drought
AP News’ Stephen Whyno reports: “Tocchet spent 2 1/2 seasons in Vancouver and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2023-24 for guiding the Canucks to a 50-win season and first place in the Pacific Division. He did not have a contract moving forward and decided not to sign another with the Canucks two weeks after they missed the playoffs. Now 61, Tocchet won the Stanley Cup as an assistant with Pittsburgh in 2016 and ’17 and played more than a decade with Philadelphia in separate stints at the start and end of his career.”
^{AP News}

Industry Wondering About Nick Kelly’s Agency Move
SBJ’s Terry Lefton writes, “Across the experiential and sports agency space this week, there was an absolute cacophony of reaction to Nick Kelly departing the top sponsorship job at Verizon after 27 months to establish his own brand-side shop: Encore Sports & Entertainment.

“Reaction in the agency buzzosphere varied from surprise to bewilderment, with many questioning why he would leave what they termed “the top job in sponsorship.” Certainly, it’s one of the biggest on the brand side.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

NFL Commissioner Goodell Makes Pitch to Gov. DeWine, Legislative Leaders for New Browns Stadium
“All of the conversations have been incredibly positive. Tremendous leadership by the governor and leadership by (the General) Assembly,” Goodell told cleveland.com during a telephone interview between meetings in Columbus.

“We think this is a benefit not just to Brook Park. This is a benefit to the entire area, including downtown. People coming here for events will be staying downtown. They will be eating downtown.”
^{cleveland.com}

Angel Stadium Future on Hold Until After Season
The city of Anaheim is “likely to wait until after the baseball season” to address the future of Angel Stadium. Deputy City Manager Ted White told the City Council yesterday that the “prudent course of action would be for his staff to get a ‘full understanding’ of the stadium review before asking the council how to proceed.” White “projected making that presentation sometime that fall.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

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The House Settlement Has Thrown High School Athletes Into Crisis
FOS’ Amanda Christovich writes, “Last fall, Gracelyn Laudermilch thought she had secured a spot on the track and cross-country team at the Division I school of her dreams. But late in October, the high school senior was informed she may not have a place in the program after all. The reason: new roster limits imposed by the pending House v. NCAA settlement.

“Now, just a few weeks away from graduating Northeast Bradford Junior/Senior High School in Rome, Penn., Laudermilch has no idea whether she’ll have a spot on the roster next year—or where she’s going to college at all…”
^{Front Office Sports}

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