RECOGNISING THE DEEP connection the ESPN brand has established with sports fans and the significance of the moment, the new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service will be named ESPN, Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Chairman announced today.
Pitaro said, “We are providing everything ESPN has to offer directly to fans and all in one place. As we thought about the name, we kept returning to the fact that, across every generation, ESPN is the most trusted, loved and recognized name in sports, and that we should keep it simple and double down on the power of ESPN. Our straightforward approach to name and pricing will help fans cut through the clutter, and provide them compelling options to access all our content within the enhanced ESPN App. It will be the ultimate sports destination for personalized experiences and features, and, on top of that, fans will be able to choose to bundle ESPN with the industry-leading Disney+ and Hulu streaming services.”
Fans will have two ESPN DTC plans from which to choose, including an unlimited package that delivers the entire suite of ESPN networks and content.
ESPN’s new streaming plans will offer fans more choice and flexibility through the enhanced ESPN App. Pricing starts at $11.99/month for the select plan and $29.99/month for the unlimited package. Bundling options with Disney+ and Hulu will also be available, including a launch offer of $29.99/month for the first 12 months. ESPN will remain accessible via traditional TV providers.
The unlimited plan will give fans access to all of ESPN’s linear networks – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes – in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX, covering 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, studio shows, original programming, and more. ESPN’s unprecedented rights portfolio includes the NFL; NBA; NHL; MLB; WNBA; UFC; UFL; SEC; ACC; Big 12; College Football Playoff; 40 NCAA championships including the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship; LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL, and FA Cup soccer; Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open tennis; The Masters, PGA Championship, PGA TOUR, and TGL golf; Little League World Series baseball and softball; Premier Lacrosse League; and more. ESPN’s leading studio shows include the iconic SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, The Pat McAfee Show, Pardon the Interruption, College GameDay, NBA Today, and others, along with on-demand content including 30 for 30 films, ESPN Originals, and more.
Existing ESPN+ subscribers will automatically become subscribers to ESPN’s new service, based on their current subscription level. Standalone ESPN+ subscribers get the ESPN select plan, and Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle subscribers get the ESPN select bundle.
At launch, ESPN will introduce a series of enhancements to the industry-leading ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices. These new features will be available to all users, whether they subscribe directly or via a traditional pay TV package. Fans subscribed to the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle will also be able to seamlessly stream ESPN content within the Disney+ app, alongside Disney and Hulu programming.
