Disney reportedly held talks about promoting ABC

Disney is in talks to dump its ABC community and native TV stations, in response to a report from Bloomberg. The leisure big reportedly met with Nexstar Media Group, which owns dozens of native information stations, to debate a sale.

Disney’s response to the report is a denial that it has reached a deal to dump ABC or any of its different linear properties. In an announcement printed on its web site, the corporate says it’s “open to contemplating a wide range of strategic choices,” nevertheless it hasn’t made an official determination and that “any report back to that impact is unfounded.”

Sources inform Bloomberg that the talks between Nexstar and Disney are nonetheless early and {that a} worth hasn’t but been named. One other supply tells the outlet that Disney can be contemplating promoting ABC to Byron Allen, the CEO of Leisure Studios, which owns a number of stations, corresponding to The Climate Channel.

Nexstar CEO Tom Carter expressed curiosity in buying Disney’s linear channels at an investor convention this week, stating that it may add ABC channels “with comparatively little friction” ought to they grow to be accessible. In July, Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted closely at promoting off a number of the firm’s linear networks, which embrace ABC, Nationwide Geographic, and FX, whereas making ESPN accessible as a standalone streaming channel.