By Lisa Richwine
Bristol, Connecticut (Reuters) – Walt Disney’s ESPN network is exploring using artificial intelligence to personalize its news and recap show “SportsCenter” as younger viewers embrace streaming TV, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said on Wednesday.
As viewers turn away from cable TV, Disney is working on a plan to offer its flagship network ESPN as a standalone app for the first time starting next year.
Disney wants to make the app the premier digital destination for sports fans, with a tailored version of “SportsCenter” based on users’ interests, Pitaro told reporters at the company’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.
“AI will obviously be a big help in this regard, not only in personalization and clip generation, but also in storytelling.”
AI could help generate clips for ESPN’s extensive sports offerings, Pitaro added.
“AI is not the terrible, horrible disruptor that many people think it is. I personally believe that AI will be very helpful and useful to the sports industry and sports fans.”
Disney is also working on adding features such as betting, fantasy sports and e-commerce, he said.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Richard Chang)
