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ESPN (streaming service)

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This article is about the planned streaming service. For the existing services, see ESPN+ and ESPN3.
ESPN
Headquarters
Bristol, Connecticut
,
U.S.
Area servedUnited States
OwnerESPN Inc.
ParentThe Walt Disney Company (80%)
Hearst Communications (20%)
Current statusPlanned

ESPN, previously referred to in trade media as ESPN Flagship or simply Flagship, is an American over-the-top sports video streaming service scheduled to be launched by ESPN Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company in partnership with Hearst Communications, in late summer 2025. The service has been announced as including access to all of the content of ESPN's U.S. linear cable channels, and as well as all ESPN+ content.

As a direct-to-consumer product, the ESPN streaming service will make the organization's full range of content, including the main ESPN channel, available on a fully standalone basis for the first time; much of the content was previously only available as part of traditional subscription TV bundles offered by cable, satellite, and virtual MVPD providers. However, Disney management has indicated that the streaming offering will be included automatically for existing linear subscribers.

Content

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The service will be made available in two tiers, select and unlimited. The lower-priced select plan will contain all content of the existing ESPN+ product, which primarily carries events or coverage not available on ESPN's linear channels; existing ESPN+ subscribers will be converted to this plan automatically, though the ESPN+ brand will remain active for an unspecified period of time due to league contractual obligations. The higher-priced unlimited plan will add the content of ESPN Inc.'s existing linear cable channels—including the flagship ESPN channel and ESPN2, among others—as well as ESPN on ABC content.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

ESPN executives have indicated that the service will include full integration with the ESPN Bet sportsbook, as well as ticketing and merchandising capabilities.[7] Some reports have suggested the service will eventually include the ability to host user-generated content.[8]

Development

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In May 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that ESPN was working on a project, internally code named "Flagship", to offer its namesake cable channel directly to consumers outside of the cable bundle. As part of this project, ESPN was reported to be in negotiations with cable providers and sports leagues to give it the flexibility to launch such a service.[1] On February 7, 2024, Disney chief executive Bob Iger announced during an earnings call that the service would launch in late August or fall 2025.[9]

Prior to the announcement of the service's name as simply "ESPN", Disney and ESPN press releases referred to the project as the "ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service".[10] Most external trade media had referred to the service as "ESPN Flagship" or simply "Flagship".[2][11][12] In March 2025, a Disney executive was reported to have referred to the service as "ESPN All Access" at an industry conference, though no official announcement was made at that time.[13] In May 2025, CNBC reported via internal sources that the service may be branded as "ESPN" with no disambiguation, to signify the service as being the network's core offering for both over the top and subscription television customers, and to reduce market confusion.[3] This plan was confirmed by Disney a few days later.[4]

Distribution

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Disney has said that all content will be available through both ESPN's own existing app, as well as the ESPN hub on the Disney+ app for those also subscribed to that service.[12][14] In February 2025, CNBC reported the most likely price would be either $25 or $30 per month.[8] Disney later confirmed the $29.99 monthly price for the unlimited tier—though with an introductory offer to bundle the ad-supported versions of Disney+ and Hulu at no additional charge for 12 months—while the select tier would retain ESPN+'s pricing of $11.99 per month.[4]

In September 2023, as part of its settlement of a carriage dispute with Disney, Charter Communications gained the right to distribute the planned service as part of its existing packages on launch.[15] In September 2024, following its own carriage dispute with Disney, DirecTV secured similar distribution rights for the ESPN flagship service.[16] In May 2025, Disney's Iger said that all subscribers to the ESPN linear channels would "automatically" get access to the new streaming offering.[17] The company later clarified that various enhancements being introduced alongside the streaming product would be added to ESPN's apps at no extra charge for existing cable subscribers.[4]

See also

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  • Venu Sports, an unlaunched joint venture DTC sports service from ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery

References

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  1. ^ a b Toonkel, Jessica; Krouse, Sarah (May 18, 2023). "ESPN Plans to Stream Flagship Channel, Eyeing Cable TV's Demise". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Spangler, Todd (October 17, 2024). "ESPN Flagship Streamer Will Include ESPN+". Variety. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Sherman, Alex (2025-05-09). "ESPN will call its forthcoming flagship streaming app simply 'ESPN,' sources say". CNBC. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  4. ^ a b c d Ota, Kevin (May 13, 2025). "New Direct-to-Consumer Offering to be Singularly Branded ESPN" (Press release). ESPN. Archived from the original on May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  5. ^ "ESPN's New $29.99 Per Month Streaming Service to Launch in Fall". Variety. May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  6. ^ Cahillane, Mollie (May 13, 2025). "ESPN reveals details around DTC service ... ESPN". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  7. ^ Fisher, Eric (December 23, 2024). "ESPN Teases Vision for Its Biggest Bet: 2025's 'Flagship' Platform". Front Office Sports. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Sherman, Alex (February 20, 2025). "ESPN plans to add user-generated content to upcoming 'flagship' streaming service". CNBC. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  9. ^ Hayes, Dade (February 7, 2024). "Disney Reveals Timing Of ESPN Stand-Alone Streaming Launch". Deadline. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  10. ^ The Walt Disney Company (September 14, 2024). "DIRECTV and The Walt Disney Company Reach Agreement in Principle for Distribution of Disney's Linear Networks and Direct-to-Consumer Services" (Press release). Retrieved February 13, 2025. The rights to distribute Disney's upcoming ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service upon its launch at no additional cost to DIRECTV customers.
  11. ^ Weinstein, Arthur (November 16, 2024). "Jimmy Pitaro: ESPN Flagship still set for Fall 2025 launch". Awful Announcing. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Cahillane, Mollie (December 4, 2024). "ESPN brings live sports to Disney+ with dedicated tile". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  13. ^ Yoder, Matt (March 13, 2025). "Does ESPN have its name for DTC 'Flagship' platform?". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  14. ^ Feldman, Jacob (December 4, 2024). "ESPN PREPS FOR DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER LAUNCH WITH DISNEY+ INTEGRATION". Sportico. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  15. ^ McCaskill, Steve (September 12, 2023). "ESPN restored to 15m homes after Disney and Charter reach new carriage deal". SportsPro. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  16. ^ Spangler, Todd (September 14, 2024). "Disney, DirecTV Reach Deal Ending Two-Week Blackout of ESPN, ABC; Agreement Encompasses New Streaming Options". Variety. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  17. ^ Winslow, George (May 9, 2025). "Iger: Pay TV Subs to Get Upcoming ESPN DTC App". TV Tech. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
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