At the outset of an eventful second half of 2024, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro has issued his “reflections at halftime” on the sports operation’s accomplishments thus far in 2024.
The exec’s public memo was accompanied by a short video and timeline. Highlights include the launch of Venu Sports, a joint streaming venture with Fox Sports and Warner Bros.
Discovery; key rights extensions and talent signings; and ratings records for coverage of the NFL, Formula 1, the WNBA and women’s college basketball, among other telecasts. “ESPN has had a tremendous first six months of 2024,” Pitaro wrote. “I could not be prouder of the team’s performance.” The first half of the year, he added, “reinforced the effectiveness of our clear, go-forward strategy (including the timing for our Flagship DTC launch and an ESPN tile on Disney+).
Initiatives like Venu Sports, the opening of ESPN BET’s first retail sportsbook and our Disney collaboration for NHL Big City Greens Classic 2 were all examples of how we’re smartly navigating a changing landscape.” On tap for the rest of the year, Pitaro noted, are coverage of Wimbledon (which began earlier Monday) as well as the WNBA Finals, the U.S.
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