The discussion began when one commentator asked what was preventing ESPN Plus from becoming a fully a la carte sports network. As it is, the subscription provides occasional simulcasts of ESPN’s cable networks, as well as certain unique streaming programs, but it cannot replace traditional ESPN for the majority of viewers, and there’s a significant reason for that: money.
As Chapek recognized in his statement, legacy linear networks like ESPN and the cable fees they generate are “major cash generators,” explaining Disney’s reluctance to disrupt the existing business model too soon.
