Bristol, Connecticut, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Walt Disney's ( DIS )

ESPN ( DIS ) network is exploring the use of artificial

intelligence to help personalize its news and recap show

"SportsCenter" as younger audiences embrace streaming TV, ESPN

Chairperson Jimmy Pitaro said on Wednesday.

As audiences shift away from cable TV, Disney ( DIS ) is crafting a

plan to offer its flagship ESPN ( DIS ) network as a standalone app for

the first time starting next year.

Disney ( DIS ) aims to make the app the preeminent digital

destination for sports fans, with a tailored version of

"SportsCenter" based on users' interests, Pitaro told reporters

at the company's headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.

"AI will obviously help significantly in terms of that, not

just in terms of the personalization and the clip generation,

but also the narration."

AI can help generate clips for the vast array of sports

that ESPN ( DIS ) offers, Pitaro added.

"AI is not the awful, terrible disruptor that many

people think. I personally believe that AI will be very helpful

and beneficial to the sports industry and to the sports fan."

Disney ( DIS ) is also working to add features such as betting,

fantasy sports and e-commerce, he said.