Several Star Wars TV Shows In Development, Says Disney

Disney wants even more control over its content, including ESPN.

On an earnings call Tuesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger provided more details about ESPN’s upcoming streaming video service, ESPN Plus. ABC, the home of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, struggled to match the ratings of its NBC, CBS, and FOX competitors, and ESPN pulled in lower advertising revenue, most likely due to the continued increase in cord-cutting. “10,000 live regional, national, and worldwide games and events a year” will be streamed including Major League Baseball, National Hockey League and Major Soccer League contests. The consensus 12- month price target was $118.15 before last night’s announcement.

ESPNESPN Plus: What’s the story so far?

Will Underworld perhaps resurface now as one of these new series on Disney’s streaming service?

The service is created to help ESPN forestall the negative effects of subscriber drop-off, as more and more viewers choose over-the-top streaming services over traditional sports and cable packages.

The app will give those who purchase it “the ability to live stream the channels themselves”.

The new service won’t be a standalone app.

ESPN Plus is expected to be available to mobile subscribers via Apple’s iOS, Apple TV, Google’s Android, and Chromecast. Users will have to subscribe to those ESPN channels via other means, including cable TV.

The over-the-top service will feature popular U.S. sports such as Major League Baseball, NHL, and Major League Soccer, as well as events not now featured on the main ESPN channels like rugby and cricket. There will also be non-live content, like documentaries, available for streaming.

While they won’t be steered by the Thrones duo, Iger noted that there are “a few” Star Wars series in the app pipeline.

ESPN Plus: How much will it cost?

Besides an update on the $52.4 billion deal for much of Fox, analysts on a conference call with CEO Bob Iger scheduled for later Monday will look for intelligence on ESPN, given declining National Football League ratings and falling subscribers at the juggernaut sports cable network.