Disney Distribution executive Justin Connolly has exited The Walt Disney Company ahead of ESPN negotiations.
Justin Connolly Exits Disney
Connolly joined Disney over 20 years ago as Director of ESPN Strategy and Operations. He held several positions over the years, most recently President of Disney Platform Distribution, a role which he held for about five years. He oversaw third-party media sales efforts for distribution, distribution strategy, affiliate marketing, and affiliate-related business operations for all direct-to-consumer services and linear media networks.
According to Deadline, Connolly left Disney on Friday even though he had re-upped his contract earlier this year. Puck’s John Ourand first broke the news, sharing that Connolly is rumored to be joining YouTube TV. Disney declined Deadline’s request for comment and YouTube TV did not immediately respond.
Platform Distribution EVP Sean Breen and Platform Distribution Strategy EVP Jimmy Zasowski will serve as interim leaders, report Deadline’s sources.
ESPN will launch a direct-to-consumer streaming service, with the linear network’s name, for $29.99 per month in early fall. The launch will lead to negotiations with distributors regarding integration of the streamer into their services. Connolly would have led these talks as well as discussions with YouTube TV, whose contract with Disney ends later this year.
Connolly was involved in Disney and DirecTV’s 2024 negotiations and the 2023 negotiation with Charter Communications, which saw Spectrum temporarily suspending subscriber access to Disney’s networks.
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