cutting costs for years. Layoffs aplenty over the last decade; using fewer and sub-par cameras for those "prime" late night slots Mandel is talking about; etc.

If reports are to be believed, Big Ten was asking them to pay double for half the content AND getting worse games.

Disney has supported ESPN's losses for a long time to make them the worldwide leader in sports but they may just not be willing to do so after a few recent flops at the Box Office and the pandemic's impact on revenue streams at parks/on cruises. The "newer" player (FOX) and the lesser players (CBS and NBC) haven't been losing money hand over fist for as long as ESPN has.