Skip to main content

ESPN says Apple ‘frustrated’ about streaming TV woes while Sling TV nabs new viewers

Plenty of TV networks have yet to make significant offerings for cord-cutters, but ESPN has been on the forefront of the movement. In a recent interview, network president John Skipper shared some details on what the future holds for ESPN and Internet TV.

It was reported late last year that Apple had put its plans for a streaming Internet TV service — initially meant to accompany its latest Apple TV — on hold. Skipper says that ESPN is still working with Apple. “We have ongoing conversations. They have been frustrated by their ability to construct something which works for them with programmers. We continue to try to work with them.”

Recommended Videos

Related:  Get ESPN and HBO Online with a free Roku on Sling TV!

Whether or not Apple launches its planned streaming service, ESPN wants to offer its programming to Apple TV users. “They are creating a significantly advantageous operating system and a great television experience and that television experience is fabulous for sports. We are big proponents of believing it would be a fabulous place to sell some subscriptions,” Skipper told The Wall Street Journal.

ESPN is a big believer in streaming TV services based on the results the company has had so far. “We think that it can be a significant mover in helping us navigate the next few years. We see the Sling TV numbers, which are significant,” Skipper said.

While Sling TV started out slow, it’s gaining traction. Goldman Sachs recently said it estimates the service could have 2 million subscribers by the end of the year.

It’s very likely that ESPN channels are a big part of why Sling TV worked in the first place, and it seems that it has worked for the network as well. Despite initial concerns that a streaming offering could cannibalize its own traditional TV subscriptions, it seems Sling TV has instead helped ESPN find new customers outside of the cable paradigm. Skipper says that ESPN is “highly satisfied that the overwhelming majority of Sling TV subscribers are new entrants.”

Kris Wouk
Former Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Sling TV begins some limited streaming in 4K resolution
Sling TV app icon on Apple TV.

Sling TV — the third-largest of the live-streaming services in the U.S. — announced today in a blog post that it will stream some live sports in 4K resolution. It joins the likes of YouTube TV and Fubo with that feature, though it has limitations that the other services do not.

All of the services are limited in what they can stream in 4K — it's ultimately up to the source material. But Sling TV has an added limitation in that the higher resolution is only available in certain locations.

Read more
Nit Nerds News: Exciting new Apple TV 4K features, new Xbox consoles
Nit Nerds News

Exciting New Apple TV 4K Features, New Xbox Consoles | Nit Nerds News

Today on Nit Nerds News: New Apple tvOS features that will freshen up existing Apple TV 4K boxes. Updated Xbox consoles are a bit of a letdown for home entertainment. Asus has unveiled some eye-popping new PC monitors.

Read more
Apple TV+ previews new seasons of Severance, Silo in teaser trailer
A man holds balloons on the left while another man stands and talks on the right.

At WWDC 2024, Apple TV+ previewed its upcoming slate of movies and TV shows in a "coming soon" teaser trailer. The footage revealed the first looks at Severance season 2 and Silo season 2.

"Welcome back. Been a minute," Seth Milchick says to Mark S. in the first look at Severance season 2. The upcoming season of Severance will deal with the fallout of the overtime contingency in the season 1 finale, with Mark, Helly, and Irving's innies spending time in the outside world. Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette all return for season 2.

Read more