ESPN Unlimited Launches On Disney+

Today marks a major step forward for Disney’s streaming abitions with the launch of a brand new direct-to-consumer version of ESPN in the United States, which, for the first time every, offers ESPN’s full suite of networks and services directly to fans, along with an enhanced ESPN App that integrates game stats, betting information, fantasy sports, commerce, multiview options and a personalized SportsCenter For You.

The new streaming service has been designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN. These new features and functionality will be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package.

This new ESPN streaming service can be accessed directly through the ESPN app, which has been updated to include all of this new content and also through the ESPN hub on Disney+.

ESPN Unlimited will cost $29.99 a month for new customers. While current ESPN+ subscribers will be migrated over to the ESPN Select plan, which is a cheaper alternative to ESPN Unlimited, without access to all of the content, ie those core live channels. Existing Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle subscribers will become subscribers to a Disney+/Hulu/ESPN Select bundle and continue to receive the same content through the ESPN and Disney+ apps.

From today, sports fans in the United States can purchase the ad-supported version of ESPN Unlimited, Disney+ and Hulu for a limited-time offering of $29.99/month for 12 months with no annual contract. There is also an ad-free option, for $38.99 a month. Both of these options will save you 39% when compared to taking the bundle.

However, if you’re a cable customer, you’ll likely also have access to the new ESPN Unlimited service included in your bundle as ESPN has agreements to provide current D/MVPD subscribers with access to ESPN DTC for about half of the pay-tv market, including Charter, DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu, Verizon and other smaller operators. Discussions with other major distributors are ongoing, and over time, Disney expects that all fans will have access to ESPN DTC.

Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN said in a statement:

“This is a monumental day for all of us at ESPN, for The Walt Disney Company and, most importantly, for our fans.  ESPN DTC and the ESPN App are a powerful combination marking a major turning point in how we serve sports fans – anytime, anywhere – for years to come. We’ve put a lot of hard work into this launch, with the full force of ESPN and Disney behind it, and we can’t wait for fans to experience all of ESPN in the ESPN App. The best part is, we’re just getting started. What we’re launching today will evolve with regular enhancements over time. As we have since 1979, we’ll continue to listen, adapt and innovate, with sports fans at the center of everything we do. There is no finish line.”

Adam Smith, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Disney Entertainment & ESPN added:

“ESPN is the preeminent digital sports platform, and this launch marks the most significant advancement of the product in years.  Even more exciting – it is only going to keep getting better. This new era kicks off at a time of incredible momentum at ESPN, and across Disney’s streaming business and products, that’s driven by an amazing partnership between storytelling and technology and a central focus on the fans.”

All-New Features in the ESPN App.

In addition to ESPN DTC, the enhanced ESPN App is introducing an expansive set of new features and functionality including a personalized SportsCenter For You, a vertical video carousel for mobile devices, a synchronized two-screen experience for live games, and multiview options for connected TV devices. Fans will also be able to enjoy integrated live game stats, real-time ESPN Fantasy stats and results, live ESPN BET information, personalized in-game commerce, and more. All of these new features are available to all fans who subscribe to ESPN, whether through a traditional pay TV package or directly with an ESPN DTC subscription.

• SC For You (Beta) – A personalized, daily version of SportsCenter delivering highlights, news and must-see video tailored to each fan’s favorite teams, leagues and sports interests. Powered by a combination of AI technology and ESPN storytellers, SC For You complements the iconic show and expands what the SportsCenterbrand can be for fans in a new era. With AI-generated commentary derived from the voices of SportsCenter anchors Hannah Storm, Gary Striewski and Christine Williamson, along with ESPN Digital & Social commentator Omar Raja, SC For You will be available on the ESPN mobile app, ESPN.com and select connected TV devices.

• ESPN Verts – A swipe-able, personalized vertical video experience that reimagines and modernizes the way fans watch video on the ESPN App on mobile devices. The new “Verts” tab on the ESPN App is part of the app’s core navigation, and Verts carousels in the main app feed let fans easily scroll through vertical short-form videos powered by a faster, more advanced personalization algorithm.

• ESPN StreamCenter – A new second-screen experience that allows fans to match the ESPN App experience on their mobile device with the ESPN App on their connected TV 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, while also presenting fans with Gamecast, ESPN Fantasy, ESPN BET information and more, right in the palm of their hand. Fans can even control the ESPN App live stream on their connected TV from their mobile device.

• Multiview – Fans can watch up to four games simultaneously on the ESPN App on connected TV devices. ESPN first launched Multiview on select CTV devices in 2017 and is now bringing this feature to all major connected TV platforms.

• Catch Up To Live – Highlights are part of ESPN’s DNA, and the new Catch Up To Live feature allows fans to watch quick-turn highlights of all the key plays they missed when joining a live game already in progress. For games where it is available, a fan can watch all the highlights – or just the ones they want – and choose to “Go Live” or “Play from Start” at any time.

• Commerce by Fanatics – Through a new agreement with Fanatics and ESPN’s new interactive features on connected TV devices, fans are able to browse and shop sports merchandise and gear related to the content they watch, easily completing a purchase from their mobile device using a QR code.

• ESPN on Disney+ – Last December, ESPN+ content was integrated into Disney+. Now, the full ESPN content lineup is available on Disney+ for bundle subscribers – continuing the evolution of Disney+ as an all-in-one destination where fans can watch all the award-winning entertainment, sports, news, and family programming from The Walt Disney Company. Disney+ is also introducing a new “Live” hub, letting fans easily find all the sports, news, Disney+ Streams and other content live at any moment, in one place. The Live hub is launching on select platforms initially and rolling out to all major platforms in the coming weeks.

Roger’s Take: Disney is going all in on sports programming, as it continues to bring in large live audiences, which appeals to advertisers, and it also drastically increases engagement rates and reduces churn of subscribers. With more and more people cutting the cord, having a version of ESPN available to everyone is vital, as most recently, it was revealed by Nielsen that almost 50% of television viewing is now happening via streaming and that number is rising every day, especially as more sports move to streaming services.

ESPN has been a part of Disney+ for a while, it’s the seventh major hub, but the launch of the new ESPN service is a significant step into making Disney+ into a real general mainstream service for everyone, especially when Hulu fully merges into Disney+ in 2026.  I also expect the ESPN+/ESPN Select tier will slowly be faded out as they push more sports fans to fully upgrade to the unlimited tier.   With all of these changes to the app, it certainly doesn’t look like the same Disney+ from launch day!

What do you think of the new ESPN? Let me know on social media!