Disney and Google have reached a settlement in the Justin Connolly lawsuit; Paramount is engaging in layoffs; and a new WNBA CBA deal prior to Friday’s deadline looks unlikely. Plus news on ESPN, Fox Sports, Cristina Daglas and YES Network.
Disney, Google reach settlement in Justin Connolly lawsuit
The Walt Disney Company has agreed to a settlement of its lawsuit against YouTube over the Google-owned company hiring former ESPN executive Justin Connolly as its global head of media and sports. The news — which was first reported by Drew Lerner of Awful Announcing, citing court records — comes amid negotiations between Disney and YouTube for a new distribution agreement ahead of the expiration of their current deal on Thursday night.
A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to Sports Media Watch that the parties have settled the dispute. The terms of the settlement are currently unknown, but Lerner reported that the parties have 45 days to fulfill obligations before the case is dismissed.
During his two decades at The Walt Disney Company, Connolly served in multiple roles across the media conglomerate, most recently as the president of Disney platform distribution. Prior to that time, he worked in media distribution roles, including overseeing ESPN strategy, affiliate sales and marketing in an executive vice president position.
Shortly after Disney filed suit in May seeking a preliminary injunction to block his move, YouTube said that Connolly would “not be involved in any capacity” in negotiations surrounding a license agreement with Disney.
Paramount engaging in layoffs amid reported WBD overtures
Paramount Skydance was reportedly set to cut approximately 1,000 jobs on Wednesday, according to sources cited in multiple reports. A majority of the employees who will be affected are based in the United States as the company aims to slash about 2,000 jobs amid plans to deliver $2 billion in cost savings. The transaction occurs just over two months after the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media for $8.4 billion.
Paramount chairman/CEO David Ellison sent a memo to staff Wednesday morning emphasizing that its restructuring plan requires a reduction in workforce. The layoffs occur as Paramount has reportedly made overtures to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which itself is planned to be spun off into two publicly traded companies next year.
Christopher Palmeri of Bloomberg News reported Monday that Ellison wants to retain the creative teams of both studios while consolidating some marketing and distribution operations should a merger be completed. Ellison would also reportedly aim to retain WBD cable networks such as TNT, Discovery Channel and CNN but move content from HBO Max into Paramount+. A merger would presumably bring the sports assets from both companies under one roof, which will include UFC rights next year in the United States and — as announced this week — Australia and Latin America.
New WNBA CBA deal unlikely by deadline
The WNBA and its players’ union are unlikely to reach a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of Friday’s expiration, per multiple reports. During an interview on the “No Offseason” podcast, WNBPA senior advisor and legal counsel Erin D. Drake said that the league has not shown the same kind of urgency as the union in in reaching a deal. The sides are meeting this week but are reportedly “widely divided” on issues such as revenue sharing and the impact on player salaries, according to Ben Pickman of The Athletic.
While the WNBPA is seeking to link player salaries to a percentage of league revenue, the WNBA is looking to continue the status quo wherein revenue is only shared with the players if it surpasses targets. In a statement provided to The Athletic, a league spokesperson urged the WNBPA “to spend less time disseminating public misinformation and more time joining us in constructive engagement across the table.”
Appearing last Tuesday on NBC “Today,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that players will be receiving “a big increase,” but in “absolute numbers” rather than in share of revenue. WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson criticized Silver’s comments and claimed that the word ‘share’ is “not in their vocabulary.” Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who chastised WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert earlier in the month, recently told Emily Tannenbaum of Glamour that WNBA players are ready for a work stoppage.
Jacob Feldman of Sportico reported late Tuesday that the WNBA had offered players an extension of the current CBA. While the WNBPA has yet to accept or decline the deal, the sides did agree to a 60-day extension the last time they were in CBA negotiations.
Plus: ESPN, Fox Sports, Cristina Daglas, YES Network
- ESPN has extended its deal with Beyond Sports under which the network will produce four animated telecasts throughout the 2025-26 season (NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA games). The first of these presentations will occur on Monday, Dec. 8 as “Funday Football” returns spotlighting the Monsters, Inc. franchise to be broadcast on ESPN2, Disney XD and Disney Channel and streaming on the ESPN App and Disney+.
- Fox Sports has made a strategic investment in Shadow Lion, the creative studio that was co-founded by Fox NFL analyst and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. The deal includes Shadow Lion opening a Los Angeles-based hub on the Fox lot in addition to creative projects, including a docuseries about the University of Michigan football program.
- Cristina Daglas has been hired by Monumental Basketball where she will serve as head of research and identity, per a report from Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. Daglas formerly worked as an executive editor at ESPN, but she was reportedly placed on administrative leave in January following HR complaints and is said to have departed the company in April.
- YES Network analysts John Flaherty, Jeff Nelson and Dave Valle will not be returning to New York Yankees broadcasts next season, a YES spokesperson confirmed to Sports Media Watch Wednesday. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, who first reported the decisions, said that YES is aiming to “streamline its broadcasts” featuring analysts David Cone, Paul O’Neill and Joe Girardi.
