Disney CEO says ESPN to eventually become online only

(Image credit: Facebook.com/ESPN)

There could be big changes coming to how Americans watch their sports. Bob Iger, the CEO of Walt Disney — the parent company of ESPN — told CNBC's Squawk Box that he sees ESPN becoming an online-only channel sold directly to customers, à la HBO Now. While Iger imagines the shift taking place in five or more years, he added that, "If we end up seeing more erosion in the so-called multichannel [cable and satellite TV] bundle, quality will win out."

Apple-TV-owning sports fans shouldn't celebrate just yet, though. Forbes calculated the hypothetical cost of such a service, and ESPN clocked in at a steep $36.30 a month. HBO Now, by comparison, only costs $15 a month — and Beta Research found that the perceived value of ESPN to its consumers is a mere $1.45 a month. And come on, is the ability to stream the World Series of Poker really worth it?

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.