The leaders of ESPN, FOX and NBC all have the same goal for the start of the next decade and where they want sports streaming to be, but they’re all on different paths.
NBC Sports and Peacock Sports president of Programming Rick Cordella, ESPN president of content Burke Magnus and FOX Sports COO Mark Silverman shared the stage at the 2023 CAA World Congress of Sports in Los Angeles last week, where they each explained their strategies for streaming and where they differ.
The hope is that by 2030, the networks will all be on the same page in how live sports content is delivered to consumers.
“There may be different strategies for different companies — it is not a cookie cutter,” Cordella said. “Just as our businesses today are a little bit different, they’re going to be a little bit different in 2030. We’ll all still be here.”
“We’ve embarked on a strategy where we believe fiercely in the bundle,” Silverman said. “Both ESPN and NBC have taken a more aggressive approach. They’re investing, and they’re building…But we’re obviously all watching each other and trying to see the best way to navigate in an evolving future.”
At ESPN, Magnus said they have to take a wider approach when it comes to linear TV and ESPN+.
“It’s the broadcast network at ABC, it’s multiple ESPN branded cable networks,” he said. “It’s our digital and social. And it’s direct to consumer with ESPN+. We want to be everywhere.”
Cordella added that streaming has continued to gain strength, and that Peacock will continue to be utilized for live sports simulcasts as well as drawing more exclusive events.
“We’re starting to see that streaming can match what linear can do,” he said. “And if you can monetize that audience better on streaming, why wouldn’t you put that content there?”
