Who Owns ESPN?
Updated onExplore the ownership hierarchy of ESPN. See parent companies, holding structures, and ultimate controllers.
Ownership Chain
ESPN
ESPN is a U.S.-based multinational sports media brand whose espn.com website delivers live scores, news, analysis, and multimedia coverage for major sports worldwide.
American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company is a major U.S. broadcast television network and streaming platform owned by The Walt Disney Company.
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate known for its films, television networks, streaming services, and theme parks worldwide.
ESPN
ESPN is a U.S.-based multinational sports media brand whose espn.com website delivers live scores, news, analysis, and multimedia coverage for major sports worldwide.
American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company is a major U.S. broadcast television network and streaming platform owned by The Walt Disney Company.
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate known for its films, television networks, streaming services, and theme parks worldwide.
Major Shareholders
ESPN
Major Shareholders
| Name | Type | Ownership | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
The Walt Disney Company (via ABC, Inc.) Majority owner of ESPN Inc through its subsidiary ABC, Inc.; ESPN is described in corporate and press materials as being 80% owned by ABC, an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, with the remaining 20% held by Hearst Communications. ESPN constitutes the core of Disney’s Sports segment alongside ESPN-branded linear and direct-to-consumer services. | Corporate | 80.0% | Aug 2025 |
Hearst Communications, Inc. Minority joint‑venture partner in ESPN Inc; Hearst’s own corporate profile and ESPN fact sheets state that Hearst holds a 20% equity interest in ESPN, with the remaining 80% owned by ABC, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. | Corporate | 20.0% | Aug 2025 |
American Broadcasting Company
Major Shareholders
| Name | Type | Ownership | Voting | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Walt Disney Company American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company and operates within Disney’s Entertainment division. Disney acquired ABC through its $19 billion purchase of Capital Cities/ABC in 1996, and recent sources continue to describe ABC as being completely owned and controlled by Disney. | Corporate | 100.0% | 100.0% | Nov 2025 |
The Walt Disney Company
Major Shareholders
| Name | Type | Ownership | Voting | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Vanguard Group, Inc. Largest institutional shareholder; percentage based on top-holder data as of Sept. 30, 2025, aggregating multiple Vanguard funds and accounts. | Institutional | 8.9% | 8.9% | Sep 2025 |
BlackRock, Inc. Second-largest institutional owner; percentage based on Sept. 30, 2025 holdings; BlackRock had earlier disclosed a 6.7% stake in a 2024 Schedule 13G filing. | Institutional | 7.1% | 7.1% | Sep 2025 |
State Street Global Advisors (State Street Corporation) Major index-fund provider; stake estimated from institutional holder data and major-shareholder summaries around Sept. 30, 2025. | Institutional | 4.6% | 4.6% | Sep 2025 |
J.P. Morgan Asset Management Large asset manager in Disney; ownership percentage derived from institutional holder tables for Q3 2025 and cross-checked against major-shareholder listings. | Institutional | 3.1% | 3.1% | Sep 2025 |
Geode Capital Management, LLC Index-oriented manager (affiliated with Fidelity) holding a significant Disney stake; percentage based on institutional ownership data as of Sept. 30, 2025. | Institutional | 2.2% | 2.2% | Sep 2025 |
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