How did **Disney take over ESPN** and transform a scrappy startup into the most powerful force in sports media? This episode breaks down Disney’s decades-long rise inside **ESPN**, revealing how the company reshaped cable TV, sports broadcasting, and now the future of streaming.

For decades, **ESPN** wasn’t just another Disney asset — it was the engine powering the entire cable empire. In this episode, we break down the full story behind **how Disney took over ESPN**, starting with the network’s unlikely origins in a rented Connecticut office and ending with its role in Disney’s massive streaming future.

You’ll see how ESPN rose from a risky experiment to a cultural powerhouse thanks to early partners like Getty Oil and Anheuser-Busch, game-changing rights deals, and the launch of SportsCenter. Then we follow the money and the media politics as ABC buys in, Hearst joins the table, and Disney completes one of the biggest acquisitions in entertainment history — bringing ESPN fully into the Disney family.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Cord-cutting, subscriber losses, ESPN+, the new standalone ESPN streaming service, and the 2025 NFL deal have transformed ESPN yet again. Today, **Disney and ESPN** are navigating one of the most pivotal moments in sports media — a moment that could redefine the future of cable, streaming, and live entertainment.

If you want to understand how Disney built its sports empire — and where ESPN goes next — this is the one to watch.

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