In a dramatic escalation of corporate rivalry, Disney has filed a lawsuit against YouTube in California state court, alleging that the tech giant’s hiring of longtime Disney and ESPN executive Justin Connolly violates a recently signed contract. The lawsuit, confirmed by Variety, accuses YouTube of breach of contract, interference in a contractual relationship, and “unfair competition.” Disney is seeking an injunction to block Connolly’s move to the video platform, where he has been appointed to the newly created role of global head of media and sports.
Connolly, who spent over two decades at Disney and ESPN, most recently served as president of Disney Platform Distribution. In this role, he oversaw third-party media sales, distribution strategy, affiliate marketing, and business operations for Disney’s direct-to-consumer services, including Disney+, as well as its linear media networks. His portfolio also included content sales agreements for Disney’s general entertainment, studios, and sports divisions, making him a pivotal figure in the company’s media empire. According to Disney’s lawsuit, Connolly signed a three-year contract in November 2024, which the company claims his departure breaches.
At YouTube, Connolly’s new role will see him managing partnerships with major media companies—ironically, including Disney—and sports leagues. His responsibilities will extend to distribution deals for YouTube TV, the largest U.S. internet-delivered subscription television service with over 8 million subscribers. YouTube has been aggressively expanding its sports offerings, recently announcing an extension of its NFL partnership to exclusively stream the first Friday game of the 2025-26 football season in São Paulo, Brazil, for free worldwide (with exceptions in Canada and select countries). Connolly’s expertise in sports and media distribution makes him a strategic hire as YouTube deepens its push into premium content.
The hiring was announced internally at YouTube in a memo from Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe on Thursday, as first reported by Bloomberg. Disney’s swift legal response underscores the high stakes of Connolly’s departure, given his deep knowledge of Disney’s operations and relationships with key industry players.
Connolly’s career at Disney began in 2003 at ESPN, where he held roles such as director of ESPN strategy and operations and vice president of distribution strategy. In 2015, he was named head of Disney & ESPN Affiliate Sales and Marketing, later adding oversight of ESPN’s strategy and business development teams in 2017. Before ESPN, Connolly worked in Disney’s corporate finance group in Burbank. A Boston native, he holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA from Harvard University.
Disney’s lawsuit highlights the competitive tension between traditional media giants and tech platforms vying for dominance in streaming and sports. As YouTube bolsters its media and sports portfolio, Connolly’s move could reshape industry dynamics—unless Disney’s legal action halts it. Neither Disney nor YouTube has commented further on the litigation.
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