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Sports Programming & Acquisitions Manager – ESPN

Job ID 10150931 Location Moore Park, Australia Business The Walt Disney Company (APAC) Date posted May 15, 2026
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Job Summary:

ESPN is the world’s leading sports entertainment company, guided by its mission to serve sports fans. In Australia and New Zealand, ESPN operates the ESPN and ESPN2 channels, ESPN on Disney+ and a digital network comprising ESPN.com.au, ESPNcricinfo and ESPNfootytips.

ESPN distributes an extensive portfolio of premium sports rights including the NBA, NFL, NBL and MLB.

The Sports Content & Partnerships Manager (internally: Sports Programming & Acquisitions Manager) operates at the centre of ESPN’s ANZ business. You will play an important role in supporting the acquisition of sports rights, managing partnerships with our league and channel distribution partners, responding to questions from internal teams and sharing rights and research information across the business.  

You will work closely with teams based in Sydney, Melbourne and the US, with our leagues partners, and our channel distribution partners.

The role requires an expert knowledge of the Australian and global sports landscape, experience negotiating and interpreting sports content licensing agreements and experience managing partnerships. If you are passionate about serving sports fans this could be a role for you.  

Key Responsibilities:

Content

  • Contribute to the programming strategy for ESPN’s video platforms
  • Regularly communicate programming and rights information to the wider business
  • Identify programming acquisition opportunities and be capable of managing through to delivery
  • Liaise with production department on creation and delivery of content.
  • Analyse data to improve viewership.
  • Work closely with Disney+ programming, Ad Sales, Research and Marketing/PR to supply information and achieve cross-business priorities
  • Communicate with ESPN Network Control to coordinate delivery of content and triage issues.

Rights Support

  • Maintain deal/rights summary documents
  • Answer day-to-day rights and schedule questions from various departments
  • Help compile audience data for periodic reporting to leagues
  • Assist with competitive analysis and intelligence gathering

Partnerships

  • Day-to-day management of partnerships with our channel distribution and programming partners (e.g. supplying schedule information, handling content requests)
  • Identify areas to enhance our partnerships

Cross-business planning & promotion

  • Work cross-business to ensure ESPN content is well represented in cross-business planning

Ideal experience:

  • Must be a sports fan and consume a wide variety of sports content
  • Excellent knowledge of the most popular Australian and International sports/leagues
  • 7+ years’ experience in content and/or partnership management, preferably within sports
  • Extensive experience with contract negotiations and term sheets, and interpreting contract language
  • Experience in a role that interacts with multiple lines of business each with differing needs
  • Intimate understanding of the Australia/New Zealand television landscape, viewing trends and local sports scheduling on STV, SVOD and FTA
  • Previous experience working within a global/regional company managing multiple stakeholders in different locations and time zones is a plus
  • Experience in content production and/or live event operations is a plus

Additional Information:

This is unique opportunity to join the talented team that develops and delivers unparalleled entertainment across Australia and New Zealand so if this role captures your imagination, then apply now!

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse and inclusive workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. We are committed to building a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

The Walt Disney Company can provide individual accessibility support that may be needed during your interview process. Please let us know of accommodations that may assist in helping you feel welcome by emailing wdi.careers.au@disney.com.

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About The Walt Disney Company (APAC):

For over 70 years, The Walt Disney Company has been entertaining consumers in Asia Pacific – and enriching people’s lives. Today’s consumer can discover new branded experiences in many ways and in many markets from Australia, New Zealand, Mainland China, Japan, Korea to Southeast Asia.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with The Walt Disney Company (Australia) P/L, which is part of a business we call The Walt Disney Company (APAC).

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Hiring Process

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Explore this Location APAC

For over 70 years, The Walt Disney Company has been entertaining consumers in Asia Pacific – and enriching people’s lives. Today’s consumer can discover new branded experiences in many ways and in many markets across the APAC region.

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