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ESPN (NYSE:DIS) is likely to remain a mainstay in cable bundles, even amid an ongoing sea change in consumers' streaming habits and an increasing push into sports rights from direct-to-consumer services.
"I know there are a lot of people that still want ESPN in that traditional ecosystem,” Disney's Jimmy Pitaro told Variety. “I don’t have a crystal ball. What I will tell you is that as I sit here right now, that business is still incredible. We serve the sports fan anyway and at any time."
Still, the company has been moving some more traditional TV coverage onto its ESPN+ service, and recently moved to boost the ESPN+ monthly fee by $3 per month, to $9.99 from $6.99 - certainly a move to fund the ever-growing cost of sports rights.
For the foreseeable future, even if Disney makes flagship ESPN available via streaming, it will still be present the traditional way, Pitaro said: "If you want to buy it through Comcast or DirecTV, you will be able to.”
ESPN will keep getting more interactive, Pitaro said, including interactive live stats and purchasing merchandise - and viewers might be able to “tap on someone and place a bet within the game.”
Meanwhile, ESPN will work hard to renew its National Basketball Association contract, currently set to expire after three more seasons, Pitaro said, adding it's "an important property for ESPN and ABC. We want to keep it going."
It was reported earlier this month that Disney is no longer considering a spin-off of ESPN, having reconsidered the importance of live sports and linear TV.