The two companies are engaging in discussions, but a deal isn't imminent, according to Bloomberg, which spoke with ESPN executive Sean Bratches. If a deal were to be struck ESPN subscribers would be able to watch ESPN's streaming content via the Apple TV.
WatchESPN is already available on the go with the iPad and iPhone, though it requires customers to subscribe to a participating cable operator. WatchESPN can also be accessed on Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming console.
Disney frequently works closely with Apple, as Steve Jobs was the largest shareholder of the company after he sold Pixar, and Disney CEO Bob Iger became a member of Apple's board of directors last November.
"We're a platform-agnostic company," Bratches said. "To the extent that in the future there's an opportunity with Apple to authenticate through the pay-TV food chain as we're doing with Microsoft, that's something we'll participate in."
In March, it was said that ESPN was working with Apple on potentially bringing live sports scores to the Siri voice assistant application on the iPhone 4S. ESPN and ABC Sports were also the first to offer sports programming on Apple's iTunes in 2006.
The Apple TV already offers a number of streaming content options, including a number of sports-centric services like NHL Gamecenter, MLB.tv and NBA League Pass.
12 Comments
I'm getting tired of all the sports apps. How about Disney be a maverick and bring the Disney Channel to it?
Wake up, deeply entrenched TV and cable industries. Time to die.
How about live news?
Live news and live sports would make the Apple TV, even right now with no other changes, easily a third option around cable and satellite.
New contracts that force season pass TV shows to release the HOUR OF AIRING would be even better.
And then, what, streaming channels is the next step after that.
Ah. Forget that. Just go with streaming shows. Whatever show you want, whenever you want them… free. Ish.
So if you want to watch something live, it'll be on there live.
If you want to watch something later, it'll stream down later… but with the gaps for commercials.
And instead of regular commercials, we'd have, well, actual regular commercials. But they'd be named under the brand of "video iAds".
If you don't want commercials, you can pay for a season pass or buy the season, just like you've always been able to do with iTunes.
But NO idiotic popup ads at the bottom or sides of the screen.
I'm getting tired of all the sports apps. How about Disney be a maverick and bring the Disney Channel to it?
because live sports is more of a draw than the Disney Channel is
If im at home and I have cable, why wouldn't I just turn on the cable tv and watch out of my cable box? what advantage does having it on my apple tv give? Since the users are required to have existing cable, I don't see the advantage.