Disney’s Iger: PENN Entertainment outbid competitors ‘By Far’
Monday 14 de August 2023 / 12:00
⏱ 2 min read
(New York).- It wasn’t a mob movie, but Disney CEO Bob Iger still received an offer he couldn’t refuse when it came to forming ESPN Bet.
Speaking with analysts on the company’s quarterly earnings call Wednesday, Iger said the $2 billion-plus deal with PENN Entertainment to create the new ESPN-branded sports betting service came down to overwhelming economics — and a desire to drive additional reach and consumption on ESPN platforms.
“We believe there’s an opportunity to significantly grow engagement across ESPN consumers, particularly young consumers,” Iger said. “And why PENN? Because PENN stepped up in a very aggressive way and made an offer to us that was better than any of the competitive offers — by far.”
The agreement ends Disney’s long-running reluctance to enter the sports betting space, followed by a lengthy internal consideration with “a number of entities over a fairly long period of time,” Iger said, before settling on PENN.
“We like that PENN is going to use this as a growth engine for their business, and we actually believe and trust in their ability to use this partnership to grow their business nicely, while we grow ours,” Iger said.
Potential Partners
Meanwhile, interest from potential equity partners in acquiring a portion of ESPN also remains strong. But Iger said the ongoing consideration to sell various linear television assets is driven more by strategic considerations.
“We’re not necessarily looking for a cash infusion when it comes to potential partners,” Iger said. “We are looking for partners that are going to help ESPN transition to a [direct-to-consumer] model. That can come in the form of content, or distribution and marketing support, or both.”
Iger’s deliberation in this space is being supported by a pair of former senior colleagues.
Categoría:Sportsbook
Tags: Sin tags
País: United States
Región: North America
Event
PERU GAMING SHOW – PGS 2026
17 de June 2026
Enhancing Responsible Gaming Through Effective Training at PGS 2026
(Lima, SoloAzar Exclusive) – Training, prevention, and technology took center stage at the "Value of Responsible Gaming in Gambling Operations" conference during the 2026 Perú Gaming Show (PGS). Presented by Fernando Calderón Castro, President of the National Gaming Society (SONAJA), the session brought industry leaders together to tackle current challenges and explore strategies for safer, more transparent, and sustainable operations.
Wednesday 22 Jul 2026 / 12:00
LSports at the Peru Gaming Show: Building Presence, Opening Doors
(Lima, SoloAzar Exclusive).- The Peru Gaming Show was never just about the booth. For LSports, it was about showing up in a market where showing up still matters — and leaving with more than a contact list. Federico Brancato, Sales Manager for the LATAM Region, came to Lima with a clear sense of what operators in this part of Latin America need most right now. What he found confirmed it.
Friday 17 Jul 2026 / 12:00
Martin Ivanov: "Latin America remains one of CT Interactive's key strategic regions"
(Lima, SoloAzar Exclusive).- CT Interactive Chief Operating Officer Martin Ivanov reflects on the company's experience at the Peru Gaming Show, highlights the opportunities emerging in the Peruvian market, and outlines the company's strategic priorities for expanding across Latin America.
Thursday 16 Jul 2026 / 12:00
SUSCRIBIRSE
Para suscribirse a nuestro newsletter, complete sus datos
Reciba todo el contenido más reciente en su correo electrónico varias veces al mes.
