ESPN Will Have to Pay Up to Keep Women's Sports It Championed
Key contracts expire soon, and top events, like the women’s college basketball playoffs, could be worth $100 million or more
ESPN’s Holly Rowe interviews Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm.
Photographer: Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesESPN broadcasts about a third of all women’s sports shown on TV, and Chairman Jimmy Pitaro is a big reason why. Now, it’s going to cost him.
Women’s sports have soared in popularity since ESPN parent Walt Disney Co. bought the rights to televise a package of college events in 2011 and professional basketball in 2014. More than 10 million people tuned in to watch the April championship basketball game between Louisiana State University and the University of Iowa. The WNBA opener on ESPN drew the biggest cable audience for a regular season game in 24 years.