ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro is reflecting on the sports operations’ successes so far this year as he begins the second half of 2024. In a public memo accompanied by a video and timeline, Pitaro highlighted achievements such as launching Venu Sports, extending key rights and signing new talent. ESPN set ratings records for NFL coverage, Formula 1, WNBA, and women’s college basketball among other events.
Pitaro expressed pride in ESPN’s performance in the first six months of the year. He emphasized the effectiveness of their go-forward strategy, which includes the launch timing of their Flagship DTC and ESPN tile on Disney+. Initiatives such as Venu Sports, ESPN BET’s first retail sportsbook, and collaborations like NHL Big City Greens Classic with Disney demonstrate how they are navigating a changing landscape.
Looking ahead, ESPN will cover events such as Wimbledon, the WNBA Finals, the U.S. Open, and the return of college and NFL football. Additionally, there will be the debut of the documentary “In the Arena: Serena Williams” and Venu Sports later in the year.
Since becoming president of ESPN in 2018, Pitaro has led the division through ongoing changes, including the decline in linear TV penetration and the shift towards streaming. Initiatives like signing YouTube host Pat McAfee and introducing ESPN Bet to attract younger viewers have been part of Pitaro’s efforts to adapt ESPN to the evolving sports media landscape.