Part 9/12:
ESPN’s withdrawal from direct betting operations and affiliation with DraftKings could also be a strategic move to retain control over its core media properties and storytelling. By integrating gambling content into its existing programming and digital offerings through DraftKings, ESPN can offer an "engaged and responsible" experience—appealing to viewers without overexposure or direct association.
This shift may also prepare ESPN to negotiate better terms in future licensing or content deals, leveraging its prominent brand to influence the betting industry indirectly rather than through a branded platform that struggled to compete.