BAMTech LLC, operating asBAMTech Media and internally known as Disney Streaming Services[3], is a technology subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company located in Manhattan, New York City.[2] It was established in 2015 as a spin-off of MLB Advanced Media—the digital media arm of Major League Baseball, focused on providing streaming video technology, particularly for over-the-top content (OTT) services. The company's major clients include ESPN (for its WatchESPN service), the NHL, the PGA Tour, Riot Games (for League of Legendse-sports), PlayStation Vue, WWE Network[4][5] and TheBlaze.
It was majority owned by MLB Advanced Media (which is, in turn, a consortium of MLB's principal team owners), with minority stakes held by the National Hockey League and other investors. Disney acquired a minority stake in the company in August 2016 for $1 billion, and the following year, announced its intent to increase its stake to a 75% controlling stake for $1.58 billion. The deal was approved by regulators in September 2017.[6][7] Following the acquisition of BAMTech by Disney, the company began to develop two subscription streaming services aligned with Disney properties: the sports-oriented service ESPN+, and the upcoming entertainment service Disney+.
BAMTech was founded in February 2015 through MLB Advanced Media, spinning-out its streaming technology business into a separate company with outside investors. The formation of the company was approved by MLB Advanced Media's board of directors on August 13, 2015.[8] Under the plan, MLB-specific properties (such as MLB.com) would remain under league control.[9] In August 2016, The Walt Disney Company acquired a 1/3 stake in the company for $1 billion, with an option to acquire a majority stake in the future.[10]
On November 1, 2016, BAMTech announced a partnership with Discovery Communications to form a European joint venture known as BAMTech Europe. Its first client is Eurosport, the pan-European rightsholder of the Olympic Games beginning 2018.[11] The following month, Riot Games announced a deal with BAMTech for the company to distribute and monetize broadcasts of professional competitions in its multiplayer video game League of Legends through 2023. BAMTech will pay Riot at least $50 million per-year, and split advertising revenue.[12][13]
On February 21, 2017, Michael Paull was named BAMTech's CEO.[14] On August 8, 2017, Disney announced that it would increase its ownership in the company to a 75% controlling stake for $1.58 billion.[15] Disney also reiterated its plan to launch an ESPN-branded over-the-top service in early-2018 followed by a Disney-branded direct-to-consumer streaming service in 2019. BAMTech Media was placed under Kevin A. Mayer, Disney's senior executive vice president and chief strategy officer.[4]
The company formally launched a website and corporate identity in September 2017.[16] On November 7, 2017, BAMTech acquired the Manchester-based software firm Cake Solutions. As part of the corporate re-structuring, former director of Cake Solutions, Ian Brookes departed the company.[17]
In October 2018, it was reported that the company had been internally renamed Disney Streaming Services.[20] On October 31, 2018, ESPN International executive vice-president and managing director Russell Wolff was named executive vice-president and general manager of ESPN+.[21] The WWE did not renew its contract with Disney Streaming Services when it expired at the end of 2018 instead switching to Endeavor Streaming, formerly NeuLion, in January 2019.[22]
↑"Disney Appoints ESPN’s Aaron LaBerge as CTO of Streaming and International Division", Variety, October 10, 2018. Retrieved on November 13, 2018. “LaBerge and the DTCI Technology team will collaborate closely with Disney Streaming Services, the group previously known as BAMTech, which remains responsible for DTCI’s direct-to-consumer subscription streaming platforms.”
↑"Disney Appoints ESPN’s Aaron LaBerge as CTO of Streaming and International Division", Variety, October 10, 2018. Retrieved on November 13, 2018. “LaBerge and the DTCI Technology team will collaborate closely with Disney Streaming Services, the group previously known as BAMTech, which remains responsible for DTCI’s direct-to-consumer subscription streaming platforms.”
United Kingdom: Endemol Shine UK (Initial | Tiger Aspect Productions | Zeppotron | Remarkable Television | House of Tomorrow | Sidney Street) | Bossa Studios | Brown Eyed Boy | ChannelFlip | Good Catch | ShineTV (Endemol Shine North) | Dragonfly Film and Television | Kudos Film and Television (Lovely Day) | Princess Productions
Americas: Endemol Shine Brasil | Endemol Shine North America (Authentic Entertainment | Truly Original | 51 Minds Entertainment) | CORE Media Group (19 Entertainment | Sharp Entertainment) | Endemol Shine Boomdog | Endemol Shine Studios | Endemol Shine Latino | Endemol Shine Argentina | Endemol Shine Chile
Europe, Middle East and Africa: Endemol Shine France | Endemol Shine Nordics (Metronome Film & Television | Friday TV | Rubicon TV | Metronome Spartacus) | Endemol Shine Germany | Endemol Shine Latino | Endemol Shine Poland | Endemol Shine Nederland | Endemol Shine Italy | Endemol Shine Iberia (Telegenia | Zeppelin Television | Shine Iberia | Endemol Portugal | Gestmusic) | Endemol Shine Belgium | Endemol Shine Finland | Endemol Shine Middle East | Endemol Shine Polska | Endemol Shine Africa | B&B Endemol Shine
Asia Pacific: Endemol Shine China | Endemol Shine India | Endemol Shine Asia (SE Asia) | Endemol Shine Australia (Endemol Shine Banks)
Others: Endemol Shine International | WeiT Media | Endemol Shine Gaming | Endemol Sport | Endemol Music | Endemol Shine Pride
Defunct: Endemol Australia (Endemol Southern Star | Southern Star Singapore) | Endemol Shine Beyond (Endemol Beyond) | Endemol Shine Globo | Endemol USA (Latino | True Entertainment | Original Media) | Endemol UK (Bazal | Brighter Pictures | Cheetah Television) | Endemol France | Endemol Deutschland | Endemol Worldwide Distribution | Endemol España | Shine Digital | Shine Pictures | Shine 360° | Shine Network
United States broadcast and cable television ABC (HD) (Others) | Disney Channel (Other) | Disney XD | Disney Family Movies | Disney Junior | Freeform | FX (Others | On-Screen Watermarks | Logo Variations | HD) | FX Movie Channel (HD) | FXX (HD) | National Geographic5 | National Geographic Wild | Nat Geo Mundo
ABC Owned Television Stations KABC-TV | KFSN-TV | KGO-TV | KTRK-TV | WABC-TV | WLS-TV | WPVI-TV | WTVD | Live Well Network
Current ventures: ESPN+ | ESPN.com | ESPN Deportes.com | ESPN Broadband | ESPN Events | ESPN Films | ESPN Home Entertainment | ESPN The Magazine | ESPN Deportes La Revista | ESPN Books | ESPY Awards | ESPN Integration | The Undefeated | WatchESPN
Defunct ventures: ESPN Extra | ESPN Now | ESPN West | Arena Football League (minority stake, 2006–2009) | ESPN Star Sports (equity stake, 1994–2013) | ESPNews Asia (1996–2013) | ESPN 3D (2010–2013) | ESPN America (2002–2013) | ESPN Buzzer Beater (2010–2017) | ESPN Classic (UK) (2006–2013) | ESPN Full Court (1995–2015) | ESPN GamePlan (1996–2015) | ESPN HD (2003–2011) | ESPN HS (1997–2012) | ESPN MVP (2005–2006) | ESPN Plus (1996–2009) | NHL Network Canada (2001–2015) | SEC TV (2009–2014) | Grantland (2011–2015) | ESPN Zone (1998–2018)
U.S. sports broadcasting rights: AFL | College Basketball | College Football | Golf | High School Football | MLB | MLS (MLS Game of the Week | MLS Soccer Sunday) | NFL | NBA | WNBA | Tennis | X Games Former sports broadcasting rights: IndyCar Series | NASCAR | NHL | Thoroughbred Racing on ESPN
Other properties: FiveThirtyEight | Jayski's Silly Season Site | ESPN FC | ESPNF1 | ESPNscrum | Scouts Inc. | TrueHoop | ESPNcricinfo
Current programming: 30 for 30 | Around the Horn | Baseball Tonight | The Beat | College Football Final | College Football Live | College Football Scoreboard | College Basketball Live | College GameDay (Basketball) | College Gameday (Football) | College GameNight | E:60 | First Take | ESPN2 Garage | The Fantasy Show | Get Up! | Golic and Wingo | Highly Questionable | Intentional Talk2 | Jalen & Jacoby | The Jump | Monday Night Countdown | NBA Coast to Coast | NBA Countdown | NBA Shootaround | NBA Tonight | NFL Insiders | NFL Live | NFL Matchup | NFL Primetime | Outside The Lines | Pardon the Interruption | SportsCenter (SportsCenter:AM | SportsCenter Face to Face with Hannah Storm | SportsCenter Coast-to-Coast | SC @ Night | SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt | X Center | SportsCenterU) | SportsNation | Sunday NFL Countdown | WNBA Shootaround | World Cup Live
Former programming: 1st and 10 | 2 Minute Drill | Baseball 2Day | BassCenter | Battle of the Gridiron Stars | Beg, Borrow and Deal | Bonds on Bonds | Bound for Glory | The Bronx is Burning | Cheap Seats | Cold Pizza | The Contender | Dream Job | ESPN Friday Night Fights | ESPN Hollywood | His & Hers | I'd Do Anything | Jim Rome is Burning | Knight School | Madden Nation | Mike & Mike | MLS ExtraTime | MLS Primetime Thursday | MLS Soccer Saturday | MMA Live | NASCAR Countdown | NASCAR Now | NFL 32 | NHL 2Night | Nine for IX | Olbermann | Playmakers | Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith | RPM 2Night | SC6 with Michael and Jemele | SpeedWeek | SportsNight | The Sports Reporters | Stump the Schwab | Sunday Night Football | Talk2 | Tilt | Upscripted with Chris Connelly | Up Close
1Operated by BT under license. 2Also airs on MLB Network. 3Partnership with TV5 Network Inc. 4Partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India.
International channels Disney Channel Asia | Bulgaria | Canada (French)13 | Czech Republic | France | Germany | Greece | Hong Kong | Hungary | India | Israel | Japan | Latin America | Malaysia | Middle East | Moldova | Netherlands and Flanders | Norway | Oceania | Philippines | Portugal | Romania | Russia | Scandinavia | South Korea | Southern Africa | Spain | Sweden | Taiwan | Thailand | Turkey | UK and Ireland | Vietnam
Disney Junior Asia | Canada13 | France | Germany | India | Latin America | Oceania | Portugal | Romania | Spain | UK and Ireland
Disney XD Canada13 | Croatia | France | Germany | Indonesia and Thailand | Israel | Italy | Japan | Latin America | Scandinavia | Slovenia | South Africa | Southeast Asia | Spain | UK and Ireland
Fox Asia | Balkans | Belgium | Bulgaria | Estonia | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Italy | Japan | Latin America | Moldova | Netherlands | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Russia | Spain | Taiwan | Turkey | UK and Ireland
Fox Life Asia | India | Latin America | Spain
Fox Movies/Premium Asia (Action | Family) | Brazil (1 | 2) | Latin America (Action | Cinema | Classics | Family | Movies | Series) | Philippines | Taiwan
Fox Sports Asia | Chile | Japan | Latin America (2 | 3 | Premium) | Netherlands | Peru | Racing
National Geographic Latin America (Wild | Kids) | National Geographic Wild (Africa | Asia | Australia | Canada | Europe | Middle East) | Nat Geo Music | Nat Geo People (HD)
Other channels 24Kitchen | BabyTV | Channel V | Disney Cinema | Disney Cinemagic | DLife | Fox Animation | Fox Comedy | Fox Crime (India) | Fox Filipino | Fox Rewayat | FX | FXM | Movistar Disney12 | RTL II | STAR Chinese Channel | STAR Chinese Movies | STAR Chinese Movies Legend | Sky Cinema Disney11 | Sky Movies Disney14 | TVN | Viajar | Voyage | YourTV | Super RTL
Star India (Special logos) Television channels: Hindi:Entertainment:Star Plus (HD), Star Bharat (HD) and Star Utsav | Movies:Star Gold (HD), Star Gold Select (HD), Movies OK and Star Utsav Movies
English:Entertainment:Star World (HD) and Star World Premiere HD | Movies:Star Movies (HD) and Star Movies Select HD | Lifestyle:Fox Life (HD) and Nat Geo People HD1 | Knowledge and infotainment:National Geographic (HD) and Nat Geo Wild (HD) | Music:Nat Geo Music HD1 | Kids’:BabyTV HD1
Regional languages:Tamil:Star Vijay (HD) and Vijay Super | Telugu:Star Maa (HD), Star Maa Movies (HD), Star Maa Music and Star Maa Gold | Kannada:Star Suvarna (HD) and Star Suvarna Plus | Malayalam:Asianet (HD), Asianet Plus and Asianet Movies | Bangla:Star Jalsha (HD) and Jalsha Movies (HD) | Marathi:Star Pravah (HD)
Star Sports: Main channels:Star Sports 1 (HD) (Hindi (HD) | Tamil | Telugu | Kannada | Bangla) | Star Sports 2 (HD) | Star Sports 3 Free-to-air channel:Star Sports First (Hindi) Star Sports Select:Star Sports Select 1 (HD), Star Sports Select 2 (HD) Upcoming channels:Star Sports 1 Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarati
International channels: Africa:Star Life (HD in South Africa, SD elsewhere)
Other assets: Video-on-demand service:Hotstar | Film production:Fox Star Studios (Other) Affiliated company:Tata Sky2 (HD, + HD; defunct:Tata Sky+, Tata Sky Transfer)
Former channels and properties: Defunct:Life OK (HD)/Star One | Star Movies Action | FX (India) (HD) | Fox Crime (India) | Channel V (India) | ESPN India (HD) | ESPN Star Sports Divested:News network3 (Star News | Star Ananda | Star Majha) | Star CJ Alive4
Notes: 1Run by Fox Networks Group Asia; there is no dedicated Indian feed. Since 2019, available only in HD and not SD. 2Joint venture with Tata Group. 3Sold to ABP Group. 4Sold to CJ E&M.
Non-Indian companies using the Star brand:
STAR Greater China: Star Movies (HD) | STAR Chinese Channel | STAR Chinese Movies | STAR Chinese Movies Legend | National Geographic (HD) | Nat Geo Wild (HD) | Nat Geo People (HD) | Channel V (HD)
Taiwan:Star Movies HD (Taiwan)
Disbanded channels and properties: China: Star China Media1 (Star Sports | Xing Kong | Channel V (China) | Fortune Star) Southeast Asia2:Star World (Asia) and Star Movies (Asia, Philippines and Taiwan) Indonesia:antv3 Philippines:Viva Cinema4 South Korea:Channel V (Korea)
Notes: 1Sold to China Media Capital. 2Rebranded from Star to Fox channels in 2017. Now owned by Fox Networks Group. 3Sold to Visi Media Asia, which had owned 80% of the channel (Star formerly owned 20%). 4Relauched as Pinoy Box Office.
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Non-Star television channels: India: Hindi youth entertainment: Bindass | Hindi movies: UTV Movies, UTV Action and UTV HD | English entertainment: Disney International HD | Kids’ channels: Disney Channel, Hungama, Marvel HQ and Disney Junior
International: United Kingdom: UMP Movies
Defunct channels:UTV World Movies | UTV Stars (HD) | Bindass Play Divested channels:BTVI
Star India (Special logos) Television channels: Hindi:Entertainment:Star Plus (HD), Star Bharat (HD) and Star Utsav | Movies:Star Gold (HD), Star Gold Select (HD), Movies OK and Star Utsav Movies
English:Entertainment:Star World (HD) and Star World Premiere HD | Movies:Star Movies (HD) and Star Movies Select HD | Lifestyle:Fox Life (HD) and Nat Geo People HD1 | Knowledge and infotainment:National Geographic (HD) and Nat Geo Wild (HD) | Music:Nat Geo Music HD1 | Kids’:BabyTV HD1
Regional languages:Tamil:Star Vijay (HD) and Vijay Super | Telugu:Star Maa (HD), Star Maa Movies (HD), Star Maa Music and Star Maa Gold | Kannada:Star Suvarna (HD) and Star Suvarna Plus | Malayalam:Asianet (HD), Asianet Plus and Asianet Movies | Bangla:Star Jalsha (HD) and Jalsha Movies (HD) | Marathi:Star Pravah (HD)
Star Sports: Main channels:Star Sports 1 (HD) (Hindi (HD) | Tamil | Telugu | Kannada | Bangla) | Star Sports 2 (HD) | Star Sports 3 Free-to-air channel:Star Sports First (Hindi) Star Sports Select:Star Sports Select 1 (HD), Star Sports Select 2 (HD) Upcoming channels:Star Sports 1 Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarati
International channels: Africa:Star Life (HD in South Africa, SD elsewhere)
Other assets: Video-on-demand service:Hotstar | Film production:Fox Star Studios (Other) Affiliated company:Tata Sky2 (HD, + HD; defunct:Tata Sky+, Tata Sky Transfer)
Former channels and properties: Defunct:Life OK (HD)/Star One | Star Movies Action | FX (India) (HD) | Fox Crime (India) | Channel V (India) | ESPN India (HD) | ESPN Star Sports Divested:News network3 (Star News | Star Ananda | Star Majha) | Star CJ Alive4
Notes: 1Run by Fox Networks Group Asia; there is no dedicated Indian feed. Since 2019, available only in HD and not SD. 2Joint venture with Tata Group. 3Sold to ABP Group. 4Sold to CJ E&M.
Non-Indian companies using the Star brand:
STAR Greater China: Star Movies (HD) | STAR Chinese Channel | STAR Chinese Movies | STAR Chinese Movies Legend | National Geographic (HD) | Nat Geo Wild (HD) | Nat Geo People (HD) | Channel V (HD)
Taiwan:Star Movies HD (Taiwan)
Disbanded channels and properties: China: Star China Media1 (Star Sports | Xing Kong | Channel V (China) | Fortune Star) Southeast Asia2:Star World (Asia) and Star Movies (Asia, Philippines and Taiwan) Indonesia:antv3 Philippines:Viva Cinema4 South Korea:Channel V (Korea)
Notes: 1Sold to China Media Capital. 2Rebranded from Star to Fox channels in 2017. Now owned by Fox Networks Group. 3Sold to Visi Media Asia, which had owned 80% of the channel (Star formerly owned 20%). 4Relauched as Pinoy Box Office.
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Radio networks ABC Radio | ABC News Now | ABC News Radio | Radio Disney Junior | Radio Disney | Radio Disney Country
Radio stations Radio Disney Country station:KRDC (AM) Radio Disney station:Radio Disney (Perú) | Rádio Disney Brasil9 ESPN Radio/Deportes stations: KESN6 | KSPN | WEEI1 | WEPN | WEPN-FM2 | WMVP
NOTE: Except for European markets which fully owned by Hearst (and its respective partners) since 2019.
US networks: A&E (HD) | Crime + Investigation (HD) | FYI (HD) | History (HD) | History en Español | Lifetime (HD) | Lifetime Movies (HD) | LRW (HD) | Military History | Viceland1
Latin America2: A&E (HD) | History (HD) | History 2 (HD) | Lifetime3 (HD)
United Kingdom & Ireland:4 Blaze | Crime & Investigation | History | H2 | Lifetime
Defunct: The Entertainment Channel | Alpha Repertory Television Service | The History Channel India | The Biography Channel UK and Ireland | The Biography Channel Latin America | Lifetime Moms
1Joint venture with Vice Media. 2Joint venture with Ole Communications. 3Joint venture with Sony Pictures Television. 4Joint venture with Sky Limited. 5Joint venture with AMC Networks International. 6Joint venture with TV18.
Sold Miramax | Dimension Films | Dimension Home Entertainment | Dimension Television | Dimension Extreme Films | Miramax Family Films | Miramax Books | Miramax/Dimension Films | Anaheim Ducks | Baby Einstein | Oxygen (TV network) | E! | DIC Entertainment (Others) | Creative Wonders10 | Hyperion Books | GMTV
Defunct assets ABC Circle Films | ABC Films | ABC/Kane Productions | ABC Kids | ABC Motion Pictures | ABC News Now | ABC1 | ABC Pictures Corporation | ABC Productions | ABC Video | Avalanche Software | Black Rock Studio | Blip | Buena Vista Games | Boyz/Girlz Channel | Buena Vista International | Buena Vista International Television | Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution | Buena Vista Productions | Buena Vista Records | Buena Vista Television | Caravan Pictures | Circle 7 Animation | CrossGen | DePatie-Freleng Enterprises | Disney Channel Discovery | Disney Channel (Ukraine) | Disney Consumer Products | Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media | Disney Drive-In | Disney Interactive | Disney Videos | Disneyland Records | DisneyToon Studios (DisneyToon Studios/Other) | DXP | ESPN America | ESPN Classic (UK) | ESPN Full Court | ESPN GamePlan | ESPN 3D | Go.com | Hollywood BASIC | Hollywood Pictures | Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment | Jetix (Other) | Jumbo Pictures | Junction Point Studios | Lucasfilm Television | Lyric Street Records | Malibu Comics | Mammoth Records | Marvel Toys | Palomar Pictures International3 | Paramount Comics5 | Pixar Canada | Propaganda Games | Saban Entertainment4 | Saban Interactive4 | Saban International4 | Satellite News Channel8 | Selmur Pictures | Selmur Productions | Soapnet | Star Comics | Semiorka (49%) | The Disney Afternoon | Toon Disney | Toon Disney's Big Movie Show | Toontown Online | Touchstone Television | UTV World Movies | UTV Ignition Games | Vault Disney | Vista-United Telecommunications | Walt Disney Classics | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Walt Disney Video Premiere | Walt Disney Home Video International | Zoog Disney | 7 dni TV | Fuel TV | Fox Night at the Movies | 20th Century Fox Selections | 20th Century Fox Television Distribution | 20th Century Fox Video (Others) | Fox Video (Others) | Fox Soccer | Fox Reality Channel | Magnetic Video Corporation | Regency Television2 | CBS/Fox Video6 (Others) | Playhouse Video6 | Key Video6 | Foxnet | Fox Kids (Others) | Fox Atomic | MTM Enterprises | MTM Television Distribution | MTM Home Video | MTM Music Group | MTM International | Victory Television | Metromedia Radio & Television | Metromedia Producers | Fox Lab | Four Star International | Four Star-Excelsior Releasing | New World Communications | New World/Genesis Distribution | New World International | New World Pictures International | Foxstar Productions | Fox Family11 | Fox Film Corporation | 20th Century Pictures | 20th Century Fox Records | Fox Records7 | Blair Entertainment | The Cannell Studios | Cannell Distribution | Fox World | Fox Europe | Fox Faith | Fox International Productions | FSN Chicago | Fox Sports Houston | News Corporation (original) | New World Pictures | New World Television | New World Television Distribution | New World Entertainment | Gold Key Entertainment | Gold Key Media | Leap Off Productions | Fox Television Stations Productions | Fox Television Studios | Fox 21 | Fox Next | Sky plc (39.1%) | Speed | Storer Communications | IGN Entertainment | IGN | 1UP.com | TeamXbox | Walt Disney Television (production studio) (Others) | Fox Kids | Fox Kids Worldwide | Das Vierte | Touchstone Pictures (Others | Logo Variations) | Touchstone Home Entertainment (Others) | Fox Entertainment Group | Fox 2000 Pictures | FoxConnect
Notes 1 Disney manages and operates this station owned by Entercom Communications. 2 Disney manages and operates this station owned by Emmis Communications. 3 Disney manages film catalog created for ABC; remainder of library controlled by Bristol-Myers Squibb. 4 Disney manages and operates this television and interactive units by Saban Capital Group. 5 Joint venture with Paramount Pictures. 6 Operated by Cumulus Media under an LMA. 7 Joint venture with the Hearst Corporation, which owns 20% of ESPN and 50% of A&E Networks. 8 Co-owned with Westinghouse Broadcasting (aka Group W) 9 Joint verture with Rádio Holding Participações Ltda. 10 Joint venture with Electronic Arts. 11 Joint venture with Sky plc. 12 Joint venture with Telefónica. 13 Owned by Corus Entertainment. 14 Joint venture with Sky Network Television.