Disney erased FiveThirtyEight
Summary
Nate Silver recounts the demise of FiveThirtyEight under Disney/ESPN/ABC, detailing misaligned incentives, failed monetization attempts, and the eventual shutdown in 2025. The piece frames the arc as a case study in content product strategy, IP licensing, and the tensions between creative independence and corporate ownership, concluding that a subscription-focused model may have sustained the site longer.