Disney announced on Tuesday that it has pulled its content from Netflix and will start its own ESPN streaming service, which will include Major League Baseball and National Hockey League content.
“The company will also launch its own ESPN video streaming service in early 2018. The platform, which will feature about 10,000 sporting events each year, will have content from the MLB, NHL, MLS, collegiate sports and tennis’ Grand Slam events,” CNBC reported.
This isn’t necessarily surprising news. Disney has long sought a bigger piece of the streaming pie. By moving on from the struggling Netflix streaming service, Disney is definitely showing its hand as a major power player in the entertainment industry.
It’s not yet known how much the service will cost and whether it will impact coverage of MLB and NHL on ESPN’s basic cable station. Though, one can imagine that there will be a direct link. Whether that pans out in today’s cord-cutter environment remains to be seen.
In order to power the services, Disney has agreed to purchase a majority share of BAM Tech for $1.6 billion. Those in tune with that company’s history knows that it is a spin-off of MLB Advanced Media.
This could very well change how we view live sports in the future.