Bob Chapek Breaks Silence After 2022 Firing From Disney

TV & Film

Mar 28

Bob Chapek has kept quiet since being removed from his position as Disney’s CEO just over a year ago -- until now. The new documentary, ESPN’s Fight for Dominance, features Chapek’s first public interview since November 2022. Chapek regards ESPN as “beloved by so many sports fans,” though recognizes that “the transition from a cable universe over to a streaming world is going to be one that’s going to probably be fraught with challenges.”

The current CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, has previously commented that the company may be interested in selling to more minority partners for ESPN, in addition to Hearst Communications. Disney currently owns only 80% of ESPN, with Hearst owning the other 20%. However, Chapek doesn’t believe that ESPN needs to add minority partners, despite the move to a new direct-to-consumer offering in 2025. Disney hopes that additional partners for ESPN would help with marketing and distribution with the new platform.

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In ESPN’s Fight for Dominance, Chapek also reiterated one goal he had when he was CEO – the vision that ESPN could be a hub directing viewers to wherever that game is streaming. This one-stop navigation would help the sports mogol become highlighted as “indispensable to the sports viewer” with a more optimal experience, no matter which company owns the air rights for that game or event.

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