Amazon is in talks with Disney over an ESPN partnership, according to a new report. Over the past few months, the future of ESPN has been somewhat uncertain, with Disney understood to be considering a sale.
That is, unless it can find a partner to work with as it looks to explore the idea of offering a standalone streaming version of ESPN that’s different to ESPN Plus and more of a direct replacement for the live channels included with live TV packages.
One of those potential suitors now seems to be Amazon. According to The Information, and citing “people familiar with the matter”, Amazon has already engaged in “early talks” with Disney over the possibility of working on the streaming version of ESPN.
According to the report, a potential deal between the two companies could see Amazon offering the streaming version of ESPN through its existing video services, and could even result in Amazon taking a minority stake in ESPN.
The report also suggests that Disney is currently thinking that a streaming version of ESPN would cost somewhere in the region of $20 to $35 a month.
While nothing is confirmed right now, the suggestion that Amazon could be interested in an ESPN deal does make sense. Amazon, like Apple and Google, has been pushing more into live sports in recent years, and a deal like this would further help to cement the company’s position within the live sports market.
In fact, Disney has also reportedly had talks with Apple over a similar deal, which further highlights the general interest of big tech companies in products like ESPN, and the likelihood that someone like Amazon might eventually strike a deal.
From Disney’s perspective, a deal with Amazon also makes sense. After all, Amazon is already highly invested in the streaming space and already reaches plenty of homes with its Prime membership and Prime Video standalone subscription.
If one of Disney’s goals is to increase ESPN distribution, as The Information suggests, then Amazon would seem like a good candidate to make that happen.
