Sources Dispute Reports Of Zucker Lobbying To Lead ESPN

Sources dispute reports that CNN President Jeff Zucker was lobbying for the job of ESPN President and that Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger was receptive, counter to stories that appeared in two Hollywood trade publications late Friday afternoon. Sources indicated that Iger has never talked with Zucker about the ESPN job. By early Friday evening, CNN PR issued a statement saying that Zucker “has no interest in running ESPN." Iger is said to prefer hiring someone internally from either Disney or ESPN. One source said that formal talks to find ESPN’s next President have not started yet. John Skipper resigned as President Dec. 18.