ESPN has sold a majority stake in the X Games — its 27-year-old extreme sports event franchise — to private-equity firm MSP Sports Capital. Financial terms of the deal were not disclose…
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. MSP will assume day-to-day operational control of the X Games business, which will spin off from ESPN. ESPN Productions Inc. will retain a minority, non-controlling stake in X Games, and ESPN will continue to serve as the U.S. linear broadcast partner as part of a multiyear agreement inked in conjunction with the transaction.
With the deal to take over X Games, MSP Sports Capital recruited Steven Flisler to be CEO of X Games. Flisler most recently served as VP of original content at Twitch and executive producer of Twitch Rivals, streamer-vs.-streamer esports competition series, since 2018. He also held leadership positions at NBCUniversal for more than a decade, producing live broadcasts across linear and streaming platforms.
While ESPN and ABC will continue to air the X Games on traditional TV, the new X Games company has rights to cut new digital and streaming distribution deals starting with X Games Aspen 2023 from Jan. 27-29. Going forward, X Games will likely work with Twitch and YouTube on a free livestreaming distribution model, according to Flisler. “There’s an incredibly strong legacy with the brand, but the growth hasn’t been as aggressive as the brand could be,” he said.
Tim Reed, ESPN’s VP of programming and acquisitions, has overseen the creative development and day-to-day operations of the X Games franchise since 2014. Reed will remain at ESPN and will “continue to be a partner to us,” Flisler said.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
ESPN Extends F1 TV Deal in United States Through 2025F1 returned to the ESPN networks in 2018 and viewership has gradually increased.
Read more »
ESPN Extends F1 TV Deal in United States Through 2025F1 returned to the ESPN networks in 2018 and viewership has gradually increased.
Read more »
The Best Lawn Games for Goofing Off in the SunFrom classics like cornhole to newer games like ladder toss, these are our favorite ways to play with friends and family.
Read more »
In Season 2, ‘The White Lotus’ Plays Sexual Mind Games to Meandering, Unnerving Effect: TV ReviewFor as much money and effort as she spends pretending that White Lotus hotels are the luxurious safe havens she so craves, Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) nonetheless sees them for what they truly are. “…
Read more »
How to Get Into Voice Acting for Video GamesWIRED spoke with casting director Julia Bianco Schoeffling about breaking into the industry and how it’s more than just voice acting.
Read more »
You Won’t Be Able To Put Down This Gossip Girl Meets Hunger Games NovelAnd we've got your first look at the cover.
Read more »