Sports Online
ESPN+ Subscriptions Increase During Pandemic
“Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced that ESPN+ has experienced 1000% year-over-year growth.”

Published
2 years agoon
By
BSM Staff
Earlier this week, Disney revealed some of the financial damage the pandemic has done to the company during its quarterly earnings call. Q3 saw Disney lose more than $4.7 billion. The bulk of that loss came from its theme park and cruise ship operations, most of which spent the bulk of the quarter out of operation.
On the media side, ESPN and ABC faired considerably better. Disney’s media operations saw profits fall by just 2%. It’s a good sign considering the increase in operating income.
The best news for ESPN comes in the digital space. ESPN+ has continued to see its subscription base grow. The digital platform now reaches over 8.5 million subscribers. Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced that ESPN+ has experienced 1000% year-over-year growth.
While Americans are searching for all sorts of new forms of entertainment while being stuck at home, Andrew Bucholtz of Awful Announcing points out that growth since the pandemic has not exactly been overwhelming. ESPN+ had over 7.6 million subscribers in December.
Disney+ remains the jewel in the company’s streaming crown. Chapek noted on the call that service has “far exceed[ed] our initial projections”. Disney+ now boasts more than 57 million subscribers. It was up just over 28 million in December.
It is notable that through much of the Covid-19 Pandemic, ESPN+ was able to gain subscribers even without an abundance of live sports. The service has certainly been buoyed by Dana White’s determination to stage as many UFC cards as possible. The company’s pay-per-view events are available exclusively through ESPN+.
Sports Online
Sports Media Reacts To Tom Brady Retiring
“Plenty of the biggest names in the business rushed to Twitter to pay tribute to Brady’s career on the football field.”

Published
10 hours agoon
February 1, 2023By
BSM Staff
Things seem a little more final this time. Tom Brady says he will not return to the field. The GOAT announced his retirement Wednesday morning in a video posted to social media.
While it is still unclear what happens next, plenty of people in the sports media had opinions to share. Plenty of the biggest names in the business rushed to Twitter to pay tribute to Brady’s career on the football field.
Tom Brady announced his retirement Feb. 1, 2022.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 1, 2023
Tom Brady announced his retirement Feb. 1, 2023.
As he said today, “for good.”
Watching Tom Brady get choked up announcing his retirement nearly brought me to tears. We’ll miss you GOAT 🥹🥹🥹pic.twitter.com/fke7UD0eFg
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) February 1, 2023
.@TedyBruschi shared an incredible story about Tom Brady's "addiction to winning" following his retirement from the NFL: pic.twitter.com/KOhxy03ihi
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 1, 2023
Five years ago, having watched all the games, looked at all the data, historical precedent and trends and *confidently* said Tom Brady was done.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) February 1, 2023
He played five more years and won two more Super Bowls, and nearly won another MVP.
A truly legendary & unprecedented run. 🫡
Tom Brady is the 🐐
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 1, 2023
There were other reactions as well. It is well-known that Tom Brady has a ten-year contract worth $375 million waiting for him at FOX. That means plenty of people in the sports media have questions about what today’s announcement means for Greg Olsen.
Olsen has won plenty of acclaim as the analyst in the network’s top NFL booth. Brady’s deal includes him taking over that spot, so several personalities and writers used the day to publicly question the logic in that decision.
Greg Olsen’s agents first call should be to Fox… are you really going to take a risk on Brady being bad?
— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) February 1, 2023
Next call to NBC and ask if they’re still happy with Collinsworth.
We know Romo and Aikman are locked in.
Olsen deserves a prime time gig.
Greg Olsen seeing that Tom Brady retired pic.twitter.com/DLZAgbhbFY
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) February 1, 2023
Going to be FASCINATING to see what happens with Fox, where Greg Olsen has been superb
— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) February 1, 2023
Most interesting aspect of Brady’s retirement is how he’ll have to met the bar set by Greg Olsen in the FOX broadcast booth this season.
— Joe Ovies (@joeovies) February 1, 2023
There was a third reaction too. Twitter was made for two things: reacting to breaking news and making jokes. Tom Brady announcing his retirement gave some members of the sports media the chance to do both.
If the Bucs need a new Quarterback.
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) January 29, 2022
Sometimes you’ve gotta go back, to actually move forward. pic.twitter.com/HTTXFKWEEZ
I’m already in the @FoxSportsRadio parking lot waiting for 7pm ET! #ohhappyday https://t.co/bfZ9SYv0pm
— Rob Parker (@RobParkerFS1) February 1, 2023
Today's news
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 1, 2023
Brady retires.
Beyonce going on tour.
It's only 9:12 a.m.
"Hey guys, thanks for checking out BeachHacks. Don't forget to like and subscribe. First off – any boat can be a houseboat." pic.twitter.com/gC4IUMkUJf
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) February 1, 2023
Sports Online
Mike Francesa Has ‘No Idea’ What He’ll Talk About on First Take
“They’ll tell me today or tomorrow, I guess. Maybe we’ll wing it, I don’t know. You know I have no problem winging it.”

Published
1 day agoon
January 31, 2023By
BSM Staff
The much anticipated reunion between Mike Francesa and his former co-host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo is set to take place Wednesday on First Take, and the former WFAN host admitted he doesn’t know what topics will be bandied about.
“I am going to do an ESPN visit with Dog and Stephen A. tomorrow. Been planned for awhile. Really, we’ve been talking about this last year,” Francesa said on The Mike Francesa Podcast. “I don’t know what we’re gonna chat about yet. I have no idea. They’ll tell me today or tomorrow, I guess. Maybe we’ll wing it, I don’t know. You know I have no problem winging it.”
The topic came up after an email into the podcast asked Francesa if he stayed in contact with many of his former WFAN colleagues. He admitted he doesn’t chat with as many as he would like to as often as he would like, but there are still several he’ll converse with when topics arise.
“(John) Minko, obviously. I hear from certain guys at certain times, but everybody’s busy. You don’t keep in touch as much as you should, let’s put it that way…I hear from certain guys from time to time. (Marc) Malusis, (Sal) Licata, guys like that from time to time. Sid’s (Rosenberg) always texting me something or other. I do hear from some of them, and you try to keep in touch.”
Francesa’s reunion with Mad Dog will air on First Take on ESPN from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Wednesday. Russo is a weekly contributor to the show on Wednesdays, with Stephen A. Smith putting a plan in motion to set February 1st as the reunion date during his recent book tour.
At the time of the revelation, Russo marveled at the idea of Francesa appearing on the show with him, pointing out “No other people. The three of us for two hours. Think about that. You talk about me being a fraud, Mike hated ESPN for 100 years!”
Sports Online
Super Bowl LVII Expected To Set US Betting Records
“PlayUSA projects that legal sportsbooks will take in a record $1.1 billion in bets on Super Bowl LVII.”

Published
1 day agoon
January 31, 2023By
BSM Staff
Even before sports betting was legal across the country, the Super Bowl would inspire even the most casual bettors to lay a little money down. This year, the game could help sportsbooks take in more money than ever before.
PlayUSA projects that legal sportsbooks will take in a record $1.1 billion in bets on Super Bowl LVII. That would make it the most bet on Super Bowl. It would also be the biggest handle any US sporting event has ever taken in.
The current record is held by last year’s Super Bowl. Bettors put just over $937 million down on the Rams and Bengals at legal books. The American Gaming Association projects that the total bet on the game is somewhere around $7.6 billion.
Nevada is still the king when it comes to legal sports gambling. That state is expected to take in the largest bets on the Eagles and Chiefs. Gamblers are expected to lay down $176.2 million in that state alone.
It is possible that projection is challenged. Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the epicenter of Eagles fandom, have legalized sports gambling. Could that affect where the most money is laid down?
Last year, more than 9 million bettors participated in the Super Bowl at legal books. In total, it is estimated that 31 million people made a bet online.
Super Bowl LVII will take place in Arizona on February 12. The Philadelphia Eagles are currently a two-point favorite.