Disney’s Super Bowl LXI plan concerns ABC affiliates

Disney’s plan to distribute Super Bowl LXI across ABC, ESPN and multiple cable and streaming platforms is prompting concern among ABC affiliates, who fear the expanded options could divert viewers and reduce local advertising revenue. The game is scheduled for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. An unnamed station-group CEO estimated that advertising revenue tied to traditional broadcast viewership could fall by as much as 35% compared with the previous Super Bowl. The estimate is a forecast, not a measured loss. The reports do not establish whether the affiliates will experience that decline or whether Disney will compensate them. The planned coverage includes the main presentation on ABC and ESPN, with alternative broadcasts on ESPN2, ESPNU and NFL Network. Disney also plans a Star Wars-themed version for Disney Channel and Disney XD, available through Disney streaming services. Other feeds include Spanish-language coverage. The expanded menu is intended to give viewers different ways to watch, while affiliates are concerned that audiences could shift away from ABC. Local stations sell advertising in their own markets, and affiliates fear that a...