Disney's Bob Iger Bullish On ESPN+ Amid Mixed Earnings

Disney Chair & CEO Bob Iger said the ESPN+ OTT service will cost $4.99/month. Following Disney's latest earnings report, Iger discussed ESPN's upcoming digital offerings, saying ESPN+ will "include an array of live programming that is not available -- live sports events -- on the current channels." Iger: "Sometime in the spring we're going to launch a completely revised and basically redesigned ESPN app. ... You'll be able to watch on the same app streamed live ESPN networks, provided you are a subscriber to one of the services, traditional or nontraditional" (“Closing Bell,” CNBC, 2/6).

Iger "emphasized that users would be able to personalize their experience" on ESPN+, which will "exist inside the ESPN app." Disney reported mixed quarterly earnings as "losses associated with the development of the planned streaming services" -- notably the new ESPN app -- "hurt Disney’s cable television division, where operating income fell" 1% to $858M (N.Y. TIMES, 2/7).