ESPN haemorrhage 2 million subscribers during the 2018 fiscal year

ESPN's subscription problems – the haemorrhagic sports network of 2 million people in Canada in fiscal 2018 – were in the spotlight this week with the release of Disney's annual report.

ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro was congratulated in September by Disney General Manager Bob Iger for "balancing" a network with partisan political coverage, but that did not stop subscribers from leaving in mass.

The Disney report, based on estimates by Nielsen Media Research, estimates 86 million subscribers to the network, Variety reported Wednesday.

Disney supporters primarily blame the "cut-off" for Americans who choose not to use cable television, although the network has also alienated viewers with incursions into partisan politics.

"There has been an important debate as to whether ESPN should focus more on what happens in sport than on what happens when the sport is social or political," Iger told the Hollywood Reporter in September. "And Jimmy thought the clock might have been a little too far from the field. And I think he was right. … he brought back a little balance.

Mr. Iger's comments arose as a result of the "First Take" show in which co-host Max Kellerman criticized the golf icon, Tiger Woods, for telling a reporter on 26 August that all Americans had to "respect the office" no matter who held the position. White House.

"I want to say something about what Tiger Woods said," Kellerman told his "First Take" audience. "I am angry at what Tiger Woods said. This despises the intelligence of people who hear it or it's stupid. … to say that you must respect the office – Tiger, be clear. Do you mean that the office gives respect to its current temporary occupant? No, having respect for the office primarily means, in my opinion, whether the incumbent should have respect for the office. "