Updated with youtube confirmation. Justin Connolly, A Veteran Disney and ESPN Distribution Executive, Has Become YouTube’s Global Head of Sports and Media.
His Jump, Confirmed to Deadline by A Person Familiar with the Situation, Comes as YouTube Continue to Eat Traditional TV’s Share of Overall Viewing. YouTube TV, The Tech Giant’s Pay-Tv Service, has zoomed past 8 million subscribers in eight years to beCome one of the Largest provider in the US connolly brings considerable experience in the sports world, HAVING STARTED HIS-DEMECADE-PLUS DISNEY APNICIV.
Disney Responded to connolly’s Move by Filing a Breach of Contract Lawsuit.
Distribution, WHICH USED TO MAINLY INVOLVE HAGGLING Over Subscriber Fees and Posions on the Traditional Cable Dial, has Become a Far More Complex Set of Negotiations Involving Streaming and Revenue Sharing.
Previously:
Justin Connolly, A Veteran Disney Distribution Executive, Has EXited the Company Just As it enters into a consequential series negotiations.
After more than two decades at espn and disney, connolly departed on Friday, accorting to a person familiar with the details. He had just last week taken in espn’s High-Profile Media Briefing About the Sports Division’s Forthcoming, Eponymous Streaming Service. Disney CEO BOB Iger, Espn Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and A Range of Other Top Execs Attended the New York Event on the Morning of the Company’s Upfront Presentation to Advertisiers.
Sean Breen, EVP, Platform Distribution, and Jimmy Zasowski, EVP, Platform Distribution Strategy, Will Serve As International Distribution Group, Family Sources with the Shuffle Told Deadline.
Puck Sports Media Specialist John Ourand Broke the News Friday, adding that it was clear where connolly was headd but that industry speculation centered on youtube TV. He had re-upped with disney Earlier this year, so it evidently was a case of party failing to finalize a contract.
YouTube TV Did not immediately respond to deadline’s request for comment. Disney declined to comment on the EXEC Move.
The long-anticipated espn streaming launch in late-summer ahead of the start of the College Football and Nfl Season Will Entail Complex Talks with Distributors. The Parties Will Be Hashing Out Specific Options and Price and Integration of the Stand-Alone Service into therings or Granting Access to Existing Subscribers, All while looking to Safeguard ESPN’s LEGACY INTO PAY-TV Bundle. In Addition to Spearheading Those Talks, Connolly was Also expert to be heavily Involved with upcoming carriage discussions with youtube TV. The Pay-Tv Provider, Now One of the Larger in the US with More than 8 million Subscribers, is facing the end of it current contract with disney lat.
In the Summers of 2023 and 2024, Connolly Played a Central Role in Negotiations Between Disney and Charter Communications and Directv, Respectively. The 2023 Charter Agreement Followed a 10-day Blackout on Spectrum Pay-TV and Broadband Video Packages. The Watershed Deal Including A Number of Streaming Benefits for Disney but Also the Loss of Traditional Carriage for Freeform and Other Cable Networks.
Connolly Had Been President of Platform Distribution SINCE 2019, Reporting to Alan Bergman and Dana Walden, Co-Chairmen of Disney Entertainment, and Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of Espn .. He Oversaw All Third-Party Media Effforts for Distribution, Affiliate-Related Business for All Disney Direct-to-Consumer Services and Linear Media Networks, as well as Content Sales Agreements.
In 2003, Connolly Joined The Company As Director, Espn Strategy and Operations, and Held A Number of Other Posts Over the Years, first at espn and then at the parent company.
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