Iger said that strength was a key factor in the company’s decision to purse the regional sports outlets.

“You have to look at the (regional sports networks) as a complement to ESPN, not an overlap,” Iger told CNBC. “... There will be a sharing of product, so that we can infuse ESPN national with some more local content and infuse the local regional sports networks with more national content and the result of both will be better for the consumer than it is today.”

RAM-LESS AGAIN

For the second week in a row, the Rams won’t be on St. Louis television. That comes after the team some St. Louisans still love — and more love to hate — was shown four times in a row in the city it discarded two seasons ago.

The Rams play at Tennessee on Sunday and if they win they’ll clinch the NFC West title. That’s a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2003, when they still were based in St. Louis.

Their contest, at noon, is being shown regionally by Fox. But local affiliate KTVI has opted to pick up the Atlanta-New Orleans game then. It is being shown in 45 percent of the nation. The Rams-Titans matchup goes to 24 percent.