After years of teases, hints, and vague promises, standalone streaming ESPN is finally, really coming, and we even know how much it will cost.
The new streaming service, called simply ESPN, will debut in “early” fall, at a variety of price points depending on whether you get it on a standalone basis or as part of a bundle.
To stream an “ultimate” version of ESPN that includes all its linear networks as well as broadcasts on ABC, it will cost you $29.99 a month, or $299.99 a year—yep, kinda steep, but pretty much in line with expectations ahead of Tuesday’s announcement.
You’ll also be able to get ESPN in a bundle along with Disney+ and Hulu with ads for $35.99 a month, while an ESPN bundle with ad-free Disney+ and Hulu will run you $44.99 a month.
As part of a special introductory offer, Disney will serve up the with-ads version of the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle for $29.99 for the first 12 months.
The “ultimate” tier of the new ESPN streaming service will include—at last—everything ESPN, including all its linear networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ESPNEWS, and ESPN Deportes) along with all ESPN broadcasts on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX.
You’ll also get such signature ESPN shows as SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, The Pat McAfee Show, Pardon the Interruption, College GameDay, and NBA Today.
That’s a big change from the ESPN+ streaming service, which only ever offered a sliver of ESPN’s linear content. Indeed, plenty of ESPN+ signups have found themselves caught off guard when they learned that SportsCenter, Monday Night Football (save for occasional one-off games), and other key ESPN shows weren’t included.
Speaking of ESPN+, that service will morph into what Disney is calling “select” ESPN. The “select” tier will cost $11.99 a month, or $119.99 a year, while bundles go for $16.99 a month (with ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu) or $26.99/month (with the ad-free versions of the latter two streamers).
Those who are still ESPN+ subscribers when the new ESPN streaming service arrives will automatically be moved over to the “select” version of the new service, meaning the old ESPN+ is effectively going away.
News of the coming ESPN streaming service comes just a day after Fox announced its own new streamer, Fox One. The upcoming Fox service will offer a variety of content, including sports, and like streaming ESPN, it’s slated to tee off in the fall.
The arrival of a standalone streaming ESPN has been years in the making, with Disney execs finally confirming the service last year.
Up until now, the only way to get the full-on ESPN experience has been through a cable or live streaming TV service, neither of which come cheap. There was ESPN+, but as I mentioned earlier, it was a poor substitute for the real deal.
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he has covered everything from smart speakers and soundbars to smart lights and security cameras. Ben’s articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men’s Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master’s degree in English literature.