Now Streaming: ESPN names DraftKings as official sportsbook

“Now Streaming” is The Fly’s weekly recap of the stories surrounding the biggest content streamers.

PLAYING THIS WEEKEND: Among this weekend’s newest streaming content is the first episode of Apple TV (AAPL) science fiction thriller series “Pluribus,” which is created by “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan. Meanwhile, Netflix (NFLX) subscribers can stream 2025 Gothic sci-fi film “Frankenstein,” directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi. Additionally, Ryan Murphy’s latetst legal drama series “All’s Fair,” starring Kim Kardashian and Naomi Watts, is available to stream on Hulu (DIS).

DISNEY/DRAFTKINGS: On Thursday, Disney’s ESPN named DraftKings (DKNG) as the Official Sportsbook and Odds Provider of ESPN, starting Dec. 1, the sports network announced. DraftKings will be integrated into ESPN’s platforms starting in December, including providing content for the betting tab within the ESPN app. At launch, ESPN users will be able to access DraftKings’ sportsbook, daily fantasy and Pick6. A full rollout of all integrations is expected in 2026. Earlier Thursday, ESPN announced it will no longer work with Penn Entertainment (PENN). “Our betting approach has focused on offering an integrated experience within our products. Working with DraftKings, a leader in the space, will allow us to build upon that foundation, continue to super-serve passionate sports fans and grow our ESPN direct-to-consumer business. We are excited about this new collaboration with DraftKings,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Penn announced realignment of its digital focus following the mutual decision for an early termination of its U.S. online sports betting agreement with ESPN. Pursuant to the agreed termination, the company’s OSB marketing exclusivity with ESPN will end on December 1, 2025. Other key terms of the Termination Agreement are as follows: Cash payments to ESPN terminate at the end of the fourth quarter in 2025; ESPN will retain vested warrants to purchase 7,957,210 shares with a weighted strike price of $28.951; All unvested warrants and performance warrants will be forfeited by ESPN; and PENN to rebrand OSB offering in the U.S. to theScore Bet, with a target date of December 1, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY: This week, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) reported mixed Q3 results, with loss per share beating the Street but revenue coming in below consensus. Of note, the company ended the quarter with 128M streaming subscribers, an increase of 2.3M subscribers vs. Q2. The company added that its separation into Warner Bros. and Discovery Global remains on track to be completed by mid-2026.

The day before the quarterly report, CNBC’s Alex Sherman (PSKY), which has sent the former’s board multiple letters explaining why its offer is more valuable to shareholders than splitting the company, signaling negotiations “could turn more aggressive,” CNBC added. Comcast (CMCSA) and Netflix have also shown interest in acquiring the company’s studio and streaming assets, with Reuters also reported this week that Comcast has hired bankers to weigh a bid for Warner Bros. assets.

COMCAST/ITV: Meanwhile, Comcast, which owns the Sky pay-TV business in Europe, is in discussions to acquire ITV plc’s (ITVPY) media and entertainment division in a transaction that would dramatically alter the U.K. broadcasting sector, Bloomberg’s Michelle F. Davis and Benoit Berthelot reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The Philadelphia-based company is holding talks on a potential purchase of the ITV unit, and should a deal proceed, it would leave ITV with its studios business, the authors noted.

NETFLIX/PODCASTS: Netflix has recently sent dozens of requests to agents with the hopes of signing on more video podcasters, Caitlin Huston of The Hollywood Reporter reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. Netflix wants to have a library of shows when it launches video podcasts on its platform in early 2026, sources added.

Following reports of Netflix approaching iHeartMedia (IHRT) and the streamer sending dozens of requests to agents in an attempt to sign on more video podcasters, an insider (SIRI) to license its video podcasts as part of a major push into the space. The deal would likely involve exclusivity, meaning video podcasts on the platform would not appear on rival YouTube (GOOGL), said the source, who adds that no deal has yet been reached, reported Caitlin Huston.

STOCK PLAYS: Other publicly traded companies in the space include Amazon (AMZN), FuboTV (FUBO), Fox (FOXA), Roku (ROKU), and AMC Networks (AMCX).