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Disney·Product Manager·Onsite - Product Sense / Strategy·Intermediate

Intermediate
May 2026

Summary

Got a product sense question for a PM role at Disney, focused on ESPN. Short and to the point, nothing fancy.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

How would you improve ESPN?

Product Sense & IdeationProduct StrategyRoadmap Prioritization
Author's notes

I went straight to user segments, which felt right in the moment but I probably spent too long on casual fans versus die-hards before getting to actual product ideas.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying ESPN's current position within Disney's streaming strategy and the specific user segment you're targeting. Then, identify a high-impact problem area (e.g., fan engagement, subscription growth, or content discovery) and propose a prioritized solution with clear success metrics. Focus on demonstrating product sense by connecting user needs to business goals and Disney's broader ecosystem.

Pro tip: Anchor your answer in ESPN's unique value proposition—live sports rights and real-time engagement—and show how improvements can drive Disney+ bundle adoption and reduce churn. Avoid generic features; instead, tie every idea to measurable outcomes like watch time, DAU/MAU, or subscriber retention.

1. Clarify Goals and Context

Ask clarifying questions to understand ESPN's current priorities, target users, and constraints within Disney. For example, are we focusing on ESPN+ growth, retention, or engagement?

2. Identify User Pain Points

Choose a specific user segment (e.g., casual fans, fantasy sports players) and map their key pain points in the current ESPN experience, such as fragmented content or lack of personalized highlights.

3. Brainstorm and Prioritize Solutions

Generate 2-3 potential improvements, then prioritize using a framework like RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) or impact vs. effort. Focus on solutions that leverage ESPN's live sports advantage.

4. Define Success Metrics

Propose clear metrics to measure the success of your chosen solution, such as increased daily active users, watch time per session, or subscription conversion rate.

5. Outline Implementation and Risks

Briefly discuss how you would execute the idea, including cross-functional dependencies (e.g., with Disney+ teams) and potential risks like content rights or technical scalability.

Key Points to Mention

  • Leverage ESPN's live sports rights and real-time data to create interactive, personalized experiences (e.g., betting integration, live stats).
  • Improve content discovery and navigation to reduce friction, especially for casual fans who may be overwhelmed by the volume of content.
  • Deepen integration with Disney+ and Hulu to drive bundle subscriptions and cross-promotion, leveraging Disney's broader ecosystem.
  • Enhance social and community features, such as watch parties or fantasy leagues, to increase engagement and retention.
  • Prioritize features based on business impact and feasibility, using a framework like RICE, and define clear success metrics.
  • Consider monetization opportunities, such as tiered subscriptions or interactive ads, without compromising user experience.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.