So it seems Disney prefers to launch a sports-related cell phone rather than a Mickey phone, at least in U.S. Or maybe both would be explored in conjunction: Disney has indicated it wants to go the MVNO (mobile virtual network operator, much like say Virgin Mobile in U.S., which piggybacks the Sprint PCS network) umpteen times in the past, and people have assumed it would be the kids-targeted phone rather than the real jewel in the Disney crown, ESPN.
In a presentation to financial analysts at a company investor conference in Orlando, Peter Murphy, Disney’s chief strategy officer, said the company is exploring an ESPN-branded cell phone service, and could launch one as soon as next year.
Murphy said any such service would focus on delivering services like sports news, scores and highlights to subscribers. After the feasibility study, the service could be launched in early 2005.
On a related route, would it make sense to go the more risky and expensive MVNO route, or would it just make sense to sell sports/ESPN branded handsets through an existing network: witness the recent Nextel-Nascar tie up…what makes more sense to you? Or are both of them essentially the same?
Related:
– Disney: The Mouse That Roams?
– Walt Disney Internet Group Goes Wireless
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