Disney Deal โFaces Potential Roadblockโ Over Jimmy Kimmel‘sโค Future
Disney’s proposed asset exchange with teh NFL and ESPN is โfacing a potential complication tied toโข the future of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, according to a report by Front Office Sports. Sources โindicate the agreement โcould be blocked โคdepending on how Kimmel’s contract is โhandled.
Kimmel currently earns $16 million annually and โhis contract with ABC expires in May 2026. He previously โsuggested he might โleave the network or retire whenโ his current contract ends.
The situation has drawn attention from political observers. former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told Front Office Sports the deal could be “politically tempting” for Donald Trump, given his interest in the NFLโฃ and history of leveraging media mergers. “Considering his interest in the NFL andโข its history of using media mergers as a lever, โฃit is โdifficult to imagine that it โwill not take advantageโฃ of it,” Fleischer saeid. “I doubt that it will be aโข simple commercial transaction.”
The NFL is a significant component of Disney’s sports portfolio, with the company โpaying $2.7 billion per year for theโข rights to “Monday Night Football.” Jeopardizing the merger could โฃdisrupt the league and potentially โlimit content available on โthe new โESPN streaming app.
Disney stock closed Monday at โฃ$122.56, down 1% – โa reversal from earlier losses following the proclamationโ of Kimmel’s show renewal.However, the stock has decreased 5.3% over the last month.โข
The outcome of the asset exchange approval and any potential concessions or donationsโฃ Kimmel makes to theโค Kirkโฃ family are beingโฃ closely watched as indicators of Disney’s future.