Walt Disney announced on Tuesday that its upcoming streaming service will be called ESPN, priced at $29.99 per month. This move targets sports fans who haven’t opted for traditional TV subscriptions.
Set to launch this fall, the new service promises comprehensive access to all ESPN networks, including major soccer and basketball events.
“We’re bringing everything ESPN offers directly to our fans, all in one place,” stated Jimmy Pitaro, the Chairman of ESPN.
Media companies like Paramount Global, Comcast, and Disney are increasing their sports content offerings, hoping to reduce subscriber churn, enhance engagement, and fortify ad-supported options in an increasingly competitive landscape.
This announcement comes just before the fall American football season, a day after Fox Corp. declared its new subscription streaming service, “Fox One.”
Disney also mentioned that subscribers could bundle ESPN with their Disney+ and Hulu services for $35.99 per month.
Existing ESPN+ subscribers will automatically transition to the new service based on their current subscription level, as stated by the company.
In 2024, Disney’s ESPN, alongside Comcast-owned NBCUniversal and Amazon, secured the rights to broadcast National Basketball Association games through an 11-year agreement valued at $77 billion. These contracts illustrate the draw of live sports in attracting new subscribers and advertisers.
Earlier this year, Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros Discovery decided against moving forward with Venu Sports, a joint venture focused on engaging sports fans who might be hesitant to cancel or subscribe to cable TV.
