Programming Manager - Contract Through March 2026

ESPN Australia holds an extensive portfolio of premium sports rights including the NBA, NFL, MLB and UFC, along with Australia's NBL and WNBL basketball leagues.

The Programming Manager will work with the ESPN programming and acquisitions team to support the content and scheduling strategy, on-platform merchandising, and internal dissemination of information for ESPN's channels and content platforms in Australia & New Zealand.

• Ready to jump into your new adventure with ESPN? APPLY NOW with your cover letter telling us why you want to be our new Programming Manager!
• Your main responsibilities will be, but are not limited to
• Content Scheduling
• Support the programming and merchandising strategy for ESPN television platforms
• Help maintain schedules on a day-to-day basis by implementing and disseminating schedule changes and information
• Interpret brand and marketing strategies into a long-range programming philosophy
• Analyse data to improve viewership
• Work closely with Production, Ad Sales, Research, Creative and Marketing to supply information and achieve cross-business priorities
• Communicate with Formatting, Network Control, Content Integration, and Content Screening to coordinate the implementation of the schedule
• Rights Support
• Answer day-to-day rights and schedule questions from various departments
• Gather and disseminate programming information amongst multiple internal departments
• Assemble metrics / data for periodic reporting to leagues, such as distribution and ratings
• Competitive analysis and intelligence gathering in regards to competitors and market trends
• Manage base level programming acquisitions
• Cross-business planning & promotion
• Work cross-business to ensure ESPN content is well represented
• Utilise relevant audience & platform insights to promote content
• To be successful in this role, you will ideally have
• 3+ years' experience as a television or content programmer, preferably within sports
• Previous experience working within a global / regional company managing multiple stakeholders in different locations and time zones a plus
• Extensive understanding of the Australia / New Zealand television landscape, viewing trends and local sports scheduling
• Strong knowledge of the most popular Australian and International sports / leagues
• Experience with contract negotiations a plus
• Experience in content production and / or operations a plus
• High level of creativity and able to demonstrate innovation and imagination with content promotion.
• Proficiency in business metrics and numbers, with ability to review data and translate analyses into understandable and actionable points.

Additional Information :

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.