MAGNUS
Burke

Burke Magnus is President of Content at ESPN.

Career

Burke Magnus was promoted to president, content in March 2023. As the leader of ESPN’s newly formed Content organization, Magnus has oversight of studio shows, live events, newsgathering, investigative journalism, original content/ESPN Films, the Talent Office, audio, digital, and social media.

A 28-year ESPN veteran, Magnus’s impact throughout The Walt Disney Company and the industry cannot be overstated. He has led teams responsible for some of the most important and impactful content at ESPN, both licensed and developed. A relationship builder, he has also forged successful partnerships internally across Disney and externally with league partners.

Magnus previously led ESPN’s programming acquisitions and scheduling team for nearly a decade. Responsible for rightsholder relationships, content strategy and cross-platform programming rights acquisition/scheduling on a global basis, he was a key driver in launching ESPN+, as part of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer priority.

Magnus previously served as president, programming and original content since June 2021, when he added ESPN and ESPN+ original content development and scheduling (including ESPN Films and 30 for 30 franchise) to his programming acquisitions and scheduling responsibilities.

Magnus added oversight of original content in November 2020, as well as ESPN’s relationship with BAMTech in June 2017. He was named executive vice president, programming acquisitions and scheduling In May 2015.

Magnus previously served as senior vice president, programming and acquisitions (January 2014 – May 2015), and senior vice president, college sports programming, since March 2008.

From November 2004 through March 2008, Magnus served as vice president and general manager of ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. He guided all programming, production and operations and led the inter-departmental team responsible for the growth and development of the network.

Magnus joined ESPN in 1995 as a program associate and in 1996 was promoted to program planner. In 1998, he advanced to program manager and in 2000 became director of brand management (later changed to director, programming and acquisitions), primarily responsible for ESPN’s men’s college basketball programming and scheduling. From 2002-04, Magnus was a member of the ESPN Original Entertainment (EOE) team where he served as the project manager for several programs.

Education

A native of Ridgewood, N.J., Magnus graduated from Holy Cross in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in history and then received his master’s degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts in 1994. During this time, he also served as a programming intern for CBS Sports from 1993 to 1994. UMass awarded him the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the McCormack Department of Sport Management in 2011.