An official ESPN app could eventually make its way to the Apple TV set-top box, according to a new report today. Bloomberg says that Disney, parent company of ESPN, is open to offering Apple digital access to its sports network for Apple TV users. While a deal is by no means confirmed, it appears that the companies could be in talks to add an ESPN Apple TV app in the future.
ESPN subscribers with AppleTV would gain access to the network’s Internet service on their sets. The sports network, which today announced programming for the TV season starting in September, said a deal isn’t imminent.
“We’re a platform-agnostic content company,” Bratches, the network’s executive vice president of affiliate and advertising sales, said today in an interview. “To the extent that in the future there’s an opportunity with Apple to authenticate through the pay-TV food chain as we’re doing with Microsoft, that’s something that we will participate in.”
The WatchESPN app is currently available in the iOS App Store for Bright House Networks, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon FiOS TV subscribers. You can actually stream the app’s video feed to an Apple TV via AirPlay already. (Isn’t that amazing, Time Warner CEO?) A dedicated ESPN Apple TV app would assumedly be included in a future software update.
Update: Bloomberg has backtracked with a comment issued by ESPN.
No deal is imminent with Apple, said Amy Phillips, a spokeswoman for Bristol, Connecticut-based ESPN.
“We’re not having conversations with Apple about authenticating WatchESPN,” Phillips said.
Source: Bloomberg
