ESPN’s Jimmy Pitaro on Venu Sports: ‘We believe that this is a pro-competitive service’
"It is really focused on sports fans that are not currently part of the MVPD ecosystem..."
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Jimmy Pitaro: ESPN interested in expanding local sports coverage
"We are very interested in continuing to identify partnerships on a team-specific basis."
Jimmy Pitaro: ESPN and NBA/WNBA ‘completely aligned’ in prioritizing digital and streaming
"They understand that this is where our audience is migrating — to these direct-to-consumer platforms – and so we need to be there."
Jimmy Pitaro: ESPN knew licensing ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ would make people ‘uncomfortable’
Pitaro said McAfee is also bringing in important young viewers to ESPN.
Report of ESPN officials asking Pat McAfee to fact-check Aaron Rodgers raises eyebrows
NFL ‘blindsided’ by ESPN-Fox-WBD joint streaming venture
NFL executives felt "blindsided" after being left in the dark on the announcement of the planned streaming service.
James Andrew Miller: ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro called Jimmy Kimmel personally after Aaron Rodgers interview
"Jimmy Pitaro did call Jimmy Kimmel and did a pretty good job, I believe, of talking him down."
Pat McAfee doesn’t regret torching ‘old hag’ Norby Williamson, insists ESPN relationship is ‘strong’
Bill Simmons: ESPN ‘way late’ to gambling boom, ‘they’ve handled it badly’
"They should have bought DraftKings. They should have been on the ground floor."
Dan Le Batard wants ESPN to stop pretending to care about real sports journalism
As ESPN lays off more accomplished reporters each year and works to cut investment deals with America’s biggest...
Jimmy Pitaro hails ‘critical’ Charter deal, won’t commit to DTC launch date
"I’d be lying if didn’t tell you this Charter deal wasn’t critical."
Jimmy Pitaro wants to be clear that ‘quality journalism has never been more of a priority at ESPN’
"When something happens in the sports industry, people look to ESPN."
‘Demoralized’ ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro reportedly considered leaving Disney over Bob Chapek’s decisions
Jimmy Pitaro says ESPN shift to direct-to-consumer streaming won’t upend linear TV channel
"The [traditional TV] model has been very good to Disney."
Jimmy Pitaro feels Pat McAfee’s appeal can help ESPN attract a ‘younger audience’
"We feel like his show is a natural extension of what we’re already doing."
Jimmy Pitaro says ESPN will go direct-to-consumer “when it makes sense for our business and for our bottom line”
An ESPN direct to consumer service isn't here yet, but we're still talking about "when" rather than "if."
Bomani Jones has a point with ‘That’s just not what they do’ comment on ESPN and High Noon
"I could have the greatest version of ‘High Noon’ that was possible, [but] there’s not a place in their line-up for that right now. That’s just not what they do, and that has zero to do with me."
ESPN executive moves may further reduce Disney spinoff or sale discussion
ESPN executive shuffle sees Burke Magnus overseeing content, Rosalyn Durant overseeing rights
A big part of this shift sees ESPN content executives Stephanie Druley, David Roberts and Norby Williamson now reporting to Magnus instead of Jimmy Pitaro.
Dana White credits John Skipper’s cocaine scandal for UFC’s $1.5 billion ESPN deal, though reality was more nuanced
"So you want to talk about timing."
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro says they’re still in talks with Big Ten: “We are very much in it right now.”
"We enter these discussions understanding that we can’t get everything and that we’re going to proceed with both discipline and thoughtfulness. So I can’t tell you how this is going to play out. We are very much in it right now."
Stephen A. Smith tells Dan Le Batard he understands ESPN’s “stick to sports” mandate
"I’m looking at the big picture...Let’s not blow it because we want to express ourselves."
Adam Schefter on staying at ESPN: “In the end, I felt more comfortable”
He may have left money on the table, but Adam Schefter seems content with the decision for different reasons.
Jimmy Pitaro calls ESPN+ “the centerpiece” and “the jewel,” says “We’re going to keep acquiring more rights for ESPN+”
"ESPN+ is the centerpiece. It is the jewel. ...That exclusivity really helps drive audience. As we move forward we are going to keep acquiring more rights for ESPN+."
Disney refutes report on a potential ESPN spinoff, stock surges anyway
That stock bump today might be a tough data point to ignore now, though.