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ESPN Viewer Losses Add to Angst for Disney's Big Profit Engine

  • Filing shows 7 million subscribers vanishing over two years
  • CEO Bob Iger revealed decline in August, yet concerns linger
Bloomberg business news

Disney Feels Pain of Seven Million Lost ESPN Subscribers

ESPN’s declining subscriber base -- down 7 million in two years -- is presenting owner Walt Disney Co. with tough choices.

The company said late Wednesday in an annual regulatory filing that its flagship ESPN sports channel lost 3 million subscribers in the latest fiscal year, finishing with 92 million, according to estimates from Nielsen. Other Disney networks also registered declines.