Analyst Dan Ives says it’s “a matter of when, not if ” when it comes to a possible Apple acquisition of ESPN from Disney. Ives says the sports channel is a “perfect fit” for Apple TV+, predicting the Cupertino firm will acquire the sports TV giant within the next six to nine months.
ESPN is currently owned by the somewhat financially challenged Walt Disney Company, which is much-rumored to be looking to sell off pieces of its entertainment arms. Some observers have even gone so far as to predict Apple will buy the entire Disney empire.
However Wedbush analyst Dan Ives is managing those expectations by specifying ESPN as the target, but at the same time, he is adamant that Apple will buy it.
“I believe it’s a matter of when, not if ESPN and Apple get together,” Ives said on CNBC’s “Last Call” show.
“I think Apple is really the perfect fit. And I think this is something for Cupertino that they’re looking to go after. Live sports content is the golden goose.”
However, some believe that Apple will instead become a strategic partner of ESPN. Ives says that while that’s possible, he believes Apple will instead buy ESPN outright.
He argues Apple TV+’s need for additional content, especially sports. The cost of sports rights means it will only be the largest firms that will be able to make such a purchase.
“It’s a new age,” he continued. “And I think when you look at Apple, I mean, you’re talking about coming here historically has never done acquisitions of this size, but you have 200 billion that they could ultimately go after and more.”
“And I think it’s just the start of Apple, Amazon, and others just going more and more after sports content,” said Ives. “You look at ESPN, to me, it’s just the perfect fit for Apple. either as a strategic partnership minimum, but we believe an acquisition could clearly happen here as we look into the next six to nine months.”
Ives didn’t provide any information as to whether an Apple purchase of ESPN would also include ESPN8: The “Ocho.”
(Via AppleInsider)
