Part 11/13:
Some believe ESPN’s corporate parent, Disney, may be powerless to intervene. Its own struggles—including declines in theme parks and other consumer products—compound the challenge. Others argue that ESPN’s monopoly is rooted in its historical dominance, and simply losing sporting rights will not necessarily doom it, as long as its traditional revenue streams continue.
However, many contend that the combination of bad branding, politicization, and viewer fatigue makes a full recovery difficult—if not impossible. The rise of YouTube and streaming platforms has placed a finger on the proverbial elephant in the room: that sports and entertainment are increasingly consumed on digital, personalized platforms that eschew the old-time network hierarchy.