On Thursday, ESPN launched its highly anticipated new direct-to-consumer streaming service, bringing the full suite of ESPN networks and services — within an enhanced ESPN App with new, personalized features and functionality — directly to fans.
To find out more, we spoke with Adam Smith, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Disney Entertainment & ESPN, about the service, new features, and what consumers can expect.
Here’s everything you need to know:
What is ESPN direct-to-consumer?
The simplest answer is that it is ESPN… offered via a new direct-to-consumer streaming subscription. More specifically, ESPN is making its full suite of content available directly to fans, for the first time ever. That includes all 12 networks and services, 47,000 live events, along with all the other ESPN shows, documentaries and originals, and some new exclusive content.
Simultaneously, the ESPN app is introducing a set of new, enhanced features that elevate the user experience across connected TV and mobile devices — enabling a more personalized, interactive, and engaging experience for fans.
How do I get it? What are the subscription options and pricing?
You can subscribe to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service via the ESPN app, ESPN.com, or via Disney+ as part of a bundle. There is no new app launching, so fans just subscribe from the popular and already widely distributed apps they know.
ESPN offers two core plans: an unlimited package that delivers the entire suite of ESPN content and a select option.
The ESPN unlimited plan ($29.99/month) gives fans access to all that ESPN offers — all 12 of ESPN’s networks and services — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, ACCNX. It will serve fans with live events, exclusive shows, plus on-demand replays, acclaimed original programming, and more.
The ESPN select plan ($11.99/month) provides subscribers with access to the content available on ESPN+, including 32,000 live sports events per year, a library of exclusive studio shows, on-demand replays, original content, and more.
Both plans are also available via an annual subscription, and both can be bundled with Disney+ and Hulu (consumers can even choose whether Disney+ and Hulu content is with or without ads).
The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN unlimited bundle is also just $29.99/month for the first 12 months. And bundle subscribers can watch ESPN content on the ESPN app (with all the new features) or within Disney+ — seamlessly available alongside the entertainment, news, and family programming from Disney and Hulu.
It is about giving fans the choice and flexibility, so they can subscribe however is best for them.
What are the new App features?
At the same time as the launch of ESPN direct to consumer, we’re introducing a series of new enhancements to the ESPN App that elevate the sports viewing experience across platforms.
“One of ESPN’s biggest competitive advantages is the incredible ecosystem of content and products,” said Smith. “Whether you are a casual or diehard sports fan, we have something for all sports fans. Streaming, highlights, news, scores, stats, fantasy sports, betting, social content, audio… you name it. What makes this launch so special is that it brings this whole ecosystem together in a new way, right alongside the lineup of live events, networks and shows. That is what it means to reimagine the viewing experience. It’s something nobody can do quite like ESPN and Disney, and this is just a starting line. The ESPN products and offering will keep getting better going forward.”
Among the new features being launched are:
- Verts: Verts is a new section on the ESPN app on mobile devices, providing fans a swipe-able, personalized vertical video experience that reimagines and modernizes how they view video in the ESPN mobile app. The “Verts” tab is now a part of the core ESPN app product navigation, and it features a personalized feed of video, including news, highlights, viral clips, analysis, and curated Social Content. The experience is powered by a new, faster, and more advanced personalization algorithm, and Verts carousels will also appear in the main app feed.
- StreamCenter: StreamCenter is a new, modern two-screen experience that allows fans to establish a synched connection between the ESPN app on their TV and mobile as they watch a live event. StreamCenter eliminates information lag and spoilers by enabling fans to synchronize live games on their connected TV device with stats and automated alerts on their mobile device, all while getting synched Gamecast, fantasy, and ESPN BET info on their mobile device. Fans can even control the ESPN app live stream on their TV, right from their mobile device.
- Interactive Features: On Connected TV’s fans will now be able to access integrated live game stats, real-time ESPN Fantasy stats and results, live ESPN BET information, personalized in-game commerce, and more — all through a series of easily opened and closed interactive content panels alongside their live viewing. These include the ability to watch quick turn highlights of Key Plays; see live stats for the game they’re watching (varied based on sport/event); check on their ESPN Fantasy teams and scores; follow their ESPN BET action (for those with linked ESPN BET accounts), or just check odds and markets info (unlinked accounts); and, via a new agreement with Fanatics, fans can even shop for and purchase sports gear as they watch the action.
- Multiview: Fans can watch up to four games simultaneously on the ESPN App on connected TV devices. ESPN first launched Multiview on select connected TV devices in 2017 and it is now extending this feature across all major platforms.
- Catch Up to Live: Highlights are part of ESPN’s DNA. The new Catch Up To Live feature allows fans to watch quick-turn highlights of all the key plays they may have missed during a live game already in progress. On games where it’s available, a fan can watch all the highlights (or just the ones they choose) and, of course, can jump to the live action or “Play from Start” with just one click at any time.
- SportsCenter For You: Launching in Beta, SportsCenter For You is a personalized daily version of SportsCenter delivering highlights, news, and must-see video tailored to each fan’s favorite teams, leagues, and sports interests.
Can you tell me a bit more about SportsCenter for You?
SportsCenter is iconic, and for decades it has been a singular show that brings the news, highlights, and more to millions of fans.
“We thought ‘What if we could take the iconic SportsCenter and expand on what that brand can mean to fans,’” explains Smith. “SportsCenter is this singularly amazing show that is produced to reach millions. With SportsCenter For You we’re flipping that on its head — saying ‘what if we created millions of shows… personalized for you, individually.’ To do that, we leverage artificial intelligence, the expertise and sensibilities of ESPN storytellers, the voices & style of our talented announcers — scaled out via AI in partnership with them — and ESPN’s unmatched video library and infrastructure.”
At launch, SportsCenter For You is still in a Beta phase as it continues to improve day-in and day-out. It features AI-generated commentary derived from the voices of SportsCenter anchors Hannah Storm, Gary Striewski and Christine Williamson, and ESPN Digital & Social commentator Omar Raja.
Do I need to subscribe to the ESPN Unlimited plan to get all the new features?
No. All of these new features are available to all fans using the ESPN app.
If you have access to watch ESPN streaming content — whether that is from ESPN directly or through a multichannel TV provider — the enhanced viewing features are there for you.
Because SC For You is highly personalized, in order to get that delivered daily they must have access to the main ESPN network via some type of subscription (DTC or via a TV provider) and be logged in.
What is included in ESPN Unlimited? Are NFL and WWE events part of this after the recent deals?
ESPN unlimited includes all that content and coverage that ESPN offers across an unmatched rights portfolio, including content in the recently announced agreements with the NFL and WWE.
It also means fans get games and events from the NHL, NBA, WNBA, UFC, and UFL; college sports including the SEC, ACC, Big 12, and College Football Playoff, plus the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship and 40 other NCAA championships; 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 much more.
It also includes all of ESPN’s award-winning studio programs, documentaries, originals, and the full, 24/7 linear stream of all 12 networks and services.
ESPN unlimited will also soon be offered as part of a Fox One bundle (starting October 2 for $39.99/month) and in a bundle with NFL+ Premium that includes NFL Redzone (starting September 3 for $39.99/month).
What happens if I have ESPN through a cable, satellite, or streaming TV package?
That’s great! ESPN will continue to be distributed via Pay TV providers and ESPN is focused on serving fans, whether they subscribe to ESPN networks directly or through a multichannel provider. Just as they have been able to do for years, all fans with a multichannel subscription can authenticate that subscription to the ESPN App and access the networks & content they have through their package. Plus, they will have access to the same enhanced experiences within the ESPN app via their subscription.
There will be some select ESPN DTC-exclusive content which is available only via an ESPN unlimited subscription or via multichannel partners with which ESPN has specific agreements in place. Discussions with other major distributors are ongoing, and we expect the vast majority of the pay-TV universe will have rights to access the exclusive ESPN unlimited content this year.
Offering this choice to fans is true to our mission: To serve sports fans. Anytime. Anywhere.
Can I watch all of ESPN on Disney+ now?
Subscribers to the Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited bundle can choose to watch all the ESPN content right inside Disney+ — or they can choose to watch it in the ESPN App (and its enhanced features).
Last December, ESPN+ content was integrated into Disney+ and this launch marks another big step in the evolution of Disney+ as a one-of-a-kind entertainment destination where audiences can watch all of The Walt Disney Company’s entertainment, sports, news, and family programming in one place.
Timed with this launch, Disney+ is also introducing a new “Live” hub to its navigation, letting fans easily find all the sports, news, Disney+ Streams, and other live, in one place, anytime. The Live hub is launching on select platforms initially and rolling out to all major platforms in the coming weeks.
Will current ESPN+ subscribers be migrated automatically? Is ESPN+ going away?
ESPN+ is not going away. Certain aspects of the current ESPN+ brand design may change, but the name “ESPN+” will remain.
Existing ESPN+ subscribers will automatically become subscribers to ESPN’s select plan and existing Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle subscribers will continue to receive the same content through the ESPN and Disney+ apps.