The report doesn’t offer many specifics about Apple’s interest in partnering with Disney in some form or fashion for ESPN. The report doesn’t make it clear whether Disney and Apple have broached the topic, or if Apple is just one of the companies Disney with which Disney would be interested in holding conversations.
Disney, however, is reportedly expecting a strategic partnership for ESPN “to come from the tech world.” Alongside Apple, other companies mentioned include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
The report continues:
What one of the big tech or mobile companies could offer is improved distribution, which historically is how dominance in media is won, dating back to the first days of the printing press.
That is why the idea of being pre-loaded onto iPhones or other devices to lead in the next frontier of distribution is appealing to ESPN. Apple is known to be very finickity in its negotiations, but if anyone could close a deal with Apple, it may be Iger, who was on their board.