Latest in ESPN

ESPN has reached a 10-year deal with the Southeastern Conference, a major college football power and a linchpin of its linear ratings and streaming ambitions. The Disney sports division has a decades-old relationship with the conference. Games will continue to air on ESPN and its portfolio of networks, but will also…

Peyton Manning football docuseries Peyton's Places is getting a third season at ESPN+ as the Disney-owned company looks to expand the franchise. The show, which is in the middle of its second season on the digital service, will return for a third run, according to Manning, who spoke during Disney's investor event…

One of the programs that launched Disney+ was a Lady and the Tramp reboot, and The Walt Disney Studio original movies have been a key element of the streaming platform’ original programming strategy. Now Disney is building a similar pipeline between its other two movie studios, 20th Century and Searchlight, and…

The purge at ESPN continues, as longtime show host Dan Le Batard will leave the network in January. The announcement of his departure said Le Batard “will be leaving ESPN early next year to pursue a new opportunity.” His ESPN radio show, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, will end Jan. 4. His hosting of the TV show H…

Sportscaster and author Paul Finebaum has signed with ICM Partners in all areas. Known as the 'Voice of the SEC' and the leading sports authority in the South, Finebaum joined ESPN in August 2013 as host of his own show. The four-hour daily program is heard on ESPN Radio Monday – Friday from 3 – 7 p.m. ET and…

ESPN has begun a marketing campaign with the tagline “one app, one tap” as a way to plug its centralized digital destination. The blitz, which features TV spots and digital pieces with emerging rapper Chika, kicked off Sunday night during the American Music Awards telecast on ABC. Disney-owned ESPN is touting its app…

EXCLUSIVE: Libby Geist, one of the architects of ESPN's growing documentary business and exec producer of The Last Dance and O.J: Made In America, is leaving the Disney-owned sports network. Deadline understands that Geist, who is Vice President and Executive Producer, ESPN Films and Original Content, will work…

Connor Schell, ESPN's content boss, has confirmed that he is leaving the Disney-owned sports network to set up his own independent production company. Schell, one of the architects of the broadcaster's 30 for 30 documentary strand and exec producer on Michael Jordan series The Last Dance and OJ: Made In America, will…

EXCLUSIVE: Following up on the news this morning that ESPN is laying off several hundred employees, we've learned that there are also a handful of layoffs taking place at Disney's studio division – including six people at Searchlight Pictures. Other areas impacted include Disney's studio marketing group as well as its…

Walt Disney’s ESPN will eliminate 500 positions, including 300 jobs that are filled and 200 that aren’t, to reserve cash for DTC and digital initiatives, the sports media broadcaster, chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a memo (below) to staff Thursday. He said the division had reached an "inflection point." "The speed at…

The BBC has deleted from Twitter a trailer for an ESPN original documentary series on South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius after it failed to mention the name of his dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The BBC press office posted The Trials Of Oscar Pistorius trailer at 10AM local time on Tuesday, but following a…

Ryan Spoon has left his post as Senior Vice President of Social & Digital Content at ESPN to take the COO position at BetMGM, a sports betting joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings At ESPN, Spoon had also headed up Digital Product and Design, helping build, operate and grow many of the…