Getting Disney To Spin-off ESPN Is A Tough Sell

The first time billionaire investor Daniel Loeb began pushing for change at the Walt Disney Co., he got his wish. His hedge fund Third Point LLC in 2020 called on the company to suspend its dividend and go all-in on streaming.

Days later, the company announced it was betting big on growing its trio of streaming services, Disney+, the sports-focused ESPN+ and adult-focused Hulu. Just two years later, Disney surpassed streaming pioneer Netflix Inc in total subscriptions.

Now, Reuters reports, Loeb is back and investing $1 billion in Disney, emboldened by making the right call on streaming.

He wants Disney to spin off ESPN, a move that Loeb argued would give the sports brand greater flexibility in pursuing opportunities like sports betting -- a step that Disney already is exploring.

In addition to ESPN, Loeb told Disney's CEO, Bob Chapek, that Disney should accelerate the timetable for acquiring Comcast Corp's minority stake in Hulu, the streaming service Disney controls.

Daniel Loeb

Loeb's ideas are getting a tepid reception this second time around from senior entertainment executives and some analysts, who say these changes would deplete Disney of revenue at a time the company continues to lose money on streaming.

Disney was reported to have been considering spinning off ESPN last year before scrapping the idea. The cable sports network's streaming service, ESPN+, has become a centerpiece of collection of streaming services Disney sells to consumers.

Chief Executive Chapek credited live sports on TV and ESPN+ for helping to power Disney's third quarter where operating profit jumped 50%. ESPN reported a recent surge in viewers drawn to college football playoffs, NBA playoffs and NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, though the number of subscribers has fallen to 74 million households, well off from its peak of 100 million in 2011, according to Nielsen.

Chapek assured investors during the recent earnings call that the company is exploring sports betting, saying, "sports fans that are under 30 absolutely require this."

Barclays forecasts that Disney's sports networks could generate as much as $12.4 billion in revenue and $3.9 billion in operating income this fiscal year.

MoffettNathanson analyst Michael Nathanson wrote that a spinoff would be financially dangerous to Disney, given the importance of the cash flow it provides the company through cable fees and advertising.