Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger on Thursday indicated that while ESPN "is getting ready to launch over-the-top services to stream more sports programming, don’t expect the move to lead to Disney backing a la carte options for its cable channels anytime soon," according to Marc Graser of VARIETY. While Iger "likes experimenting with digital platforms," he still "has no interest in breaking up the bundles of channels it currently offers through cable and satellite services." Iger said despite Disney being "very well positioned" to take advantage of the a la carte universe, "we don’t feel a compelling need to take a product to market right now that is a challenge to (its current) multi-channel bundle." Iger: "There’s no need to do it now that precipitates the downfall of that bundle." He added that Disney instead "is focused on launching over-the-top services like one around its NBA games, that serve as an add-on to make subscribing to ESPN more attractive, and give the network a way to further exploit its rights for major sports broadcasts across digital devices." Iger: "The package of NBA games that will be on ESPN will be stronger than anything we would ever offer on over-the-top. It may enhance the enjoyment of the sport but not replace it." He added that a la carte options "would create even more fragmentation, and eliminate networks that don’t have the strong branding that an ESPN or Disney Channel does" (VARIETY.com, 11/6).
