Disney sues YouTube for hiring away a sports and media exec

As YouTube prepares to air an exclusive NFL opening week game for free on September 5th, it’s hiring former Disney exec Justin Connolly — a move that has caused Disney to respond by suing both YouTube and Connolly. He’d most recently been running the streaming services and linear media networks at Disney, and will take over as YouTube’s new global head of media and sports, as first reported by Bloomberg. After spending more than 20 years at Disney and ESPN, he’ll be managing YouTube’s relationship with the media companies that distribute content on YouTube TV, as well as leading its live sports coverage.

Bloomberg also first reported the lawsuit filed yesterday in California, as Disney alleges that YouTube induced Connolly to breach a three-year employment contract that would’ve kept him there as an executive until at least March 1st, 2027. Connolly left Disney last week, just months before the launch of its standalone ESPN streaming service this fall.

YouTube has become a growing force in live sports, with its live TV streaming service amassing more than 8 million subscribers and adding the NFL Sunday Ticket package in 2023. The platform will also. Earlier this year, YouTube revealed that it has become more popular on TVs than phones.

Other streaming companies have also increased their focus on sports recently, with Amazon preparing to broadcast NBA games and Inside the NBA next season, Apple’s close relationship with MLB and MLS, as well as Netflix’s broadcasts with the NFL and other events.