In terms of subscribers, ESPN+ is behind Disney’s other verticals such as Disney+ and Hulu. The company confirmed it had added 11.5 million new ESPN+ subscribers over the past year, but aims to increase this growth moving forward
The company described sports betting as an important area of growth, highlighting recent partnerships with DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment as key opportunities.
Disney signed a deal with Caesars in September this year. The agreement includes integrations from ESPN’s digital platforms to sportbooks from William Hill. Caesars agreed to acquire William Hill earlier this year for a total sum of £2.9bn ($3.82bn).
When DraftKings went public earlier this year, it was disclosed that Disney acquired 18.2 million shares in the sports betting company through its acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019. 21st Century Fox originally invested $160m in DraftKings in 2015.
Disney said it will be increasing its commitment towards sports betting with the aim of broadening the appeal of ESPN+.
The company announced the streaming platform will also show the National Collegiate Athletic Association Southeastern Conference American football league from 2024.
