09-18-2026FAST COMPANY INNOVATION FESTIVAL

ESPN wants to break the Super Bowl ratings record. Here’s how Disney could help

The network is considering how Disney’s intellectual property and massive reach could bring additional fans to its first Super Bowl broadcast.

From left: Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN; Laura Rutledge, Monday Night Football reporter and ESPN host; and Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company, at the Fast Company Innovation Festival on September 16, 2026. [Photo: Daniel Salo/Fast Company]

BY Anna-Louise Jackson

The NFL season just got underway, but preparations for the 2027 Super Bowl began at........

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