Walt Disney may soon have to make a tough decision, weighing the future of its late-night franchise against its lucrative partnership with the NFL, according to reports.
News site Front Office Sports suggested that when Disney hints it might have to choose, the options could be quite limited.
The stakes are high. ESPN recently secured a significant deal with the NFL, trading 10% stakes that could be worth between $2-3 billion in the league’s network, along with Red Zone and fantasy football assets.
However, this agreement still needs regulatory approval from agencies linked to the previous administration.
Insiders have warned that there could be attempts to disrupt the deal. Trump, who has a fraught history with the NFL since his 2014 purchase of the Buffalo Bills, may try to intervene.
Ali Fleischer, a former White House press secretary, argued that Trump’s interest in the NFL and his history of using media mergers for political leverage make it likely he’ll act against this ESPN deal.
“It’s hard to believe he won’t engage here,” Fleischer remarked, suggesting that the commercial aspects of this transaction won’t be straightforward either.
This situation intensified when Disney’s subsidiary ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” amidst backlash over Kimmel’s comments regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
His remarks suggesting Republicans were exploiting the tragedy stirred significant controversy, even provoking Trump to threaten action against ABC for what he perceived as bias.
Trump claimed Kimmel should have been let go long ago, calling him untalented and implying that his firing was justified due to a lack of audience engagement.
These developments present a critical challenge for Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Former Disney chief Michael Eisner criticized Iger’s handling of the situation, expressing concern over the apparent absence of strong leadership.
While Kimmel faced the backlash, Disney’s distributors have been hesitant to air his show without an apology, further complicating matters.
After Kimmel refused to backtrack on his statements, Iger and TV head Dana Walden decided to suspend the show, citing concerns for staff safety and the impact on advertisers.
Currently, there’s no timeline for Kimmel’s return, and insiders have indicated that discussions are ongoing as management hopes public outrage may eventually subside.
Kimmel has been part of ABC’s late-night lineup for 22 years and makes about $16 million annually. His contract continues until 2026, although there is speculation about potential successors.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who has guest-hosted Kimmel’s show, praised him for his contributions but warned of the political motives guiding the current climate.
A report indicated that Disney executives advised Kimmel to moderate his tone for a possible return, but a recent meeting between him and Walden did not yield an agreement.
