Disney+ to Add Free ESPN Streaming Content Starting in December

As a seasoned streaming enthusiast with a soft spot for sports and a penchant for all things Disney, I must say this latest move by the House of Mouse has my heart racing faster than Usain Bolt on steroids!


As an avid fan, I’m thrilled to share that in just a few weeks, Disney is set to enhance my Disney+ experience with an ESPN “feature”! What makes this exciting is that the company plans to offer some live sports and ESPN shows, even without a separate ESPN+ subscription.

Starting December 4th, Disney+ is set to introduce an ESPN tile for U.S. subscribers. This upgrade will grant access to all of the sports content available on ESPN+ within Disney+, mirroring the experience we offer to bundle subscribers who have both Disney+ and Hulu. This information was shared by Disney’s CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston alongside their comments during the release of the September quarterly results.

In an effort to excite sports enthusiasts among Disney+ viewers, executives announced that they will provide access to selected ESPN content for all Disney+ subscribers. This includes live sports events, games, studio shows, series, and documentaries.

The combined ESPN on Disney+ service brings us a step nearer to providing a comprehensive sports selection on Disney+ within the U.S., they stated.

Disney plans to debut its self-standing ESPN “Flagship” streaming platform around autumn in 2025. Users who sign up for ESPN Flagship and Disney+ will gain access to the entire library of ESPN and ESPN+ content integrated within Disney+, as announced by company executives.

ALSO CHECK OUT: The Number of Disney+ Core Subscriptions Reaches 120 Million as the Profit of Their Streaming Business Increases. ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Contribute to Their Box Office Success.

The pricing for ESPN Flagship has yet to be disclosed. On the other hand, ESPN+, which offers numerous sports events though not the complete television schedule across all ESPN networks, currently costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 annually following a price increase that took effect on October 17th.

Disney guarantees that ESPN Flagship will provide subscribers with an exceptional range of innovative digital features, transforming it into a unique sports destination unlike any other currently available. This expanded content is expected to boost user engagement, reduce the rate at which users cancel their subscriptions (churn), and open up more lucrative advertising opportunities, as suggested by Iger and Johnston’s remarks.

Based on what Disney executives have shared, it appears that more and more people are using ESPN as their go-to digital platform for getting the latest sports news and content.

Our digital approach is paying off – it’s clear that younger demographics view ESPN as a brand that leads in the digital sphere. This is largely due to our strong presence on social media, the ESPN App, and streaming platforms. The potential offered by digital technology for sports fans is immense, and as we gear up for the launch of our direct-to-consumer service next fall of 2025, our team is busy developing cutting-edge digital features for the ESPN App. These include integrations for fantasy sports, advanced statistics, betting options, and e-commerce, all aimed at enhancing our comprehensive offering of sports content.

The ESPN Flagship experience is set to include a personalized version of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” highlights show powered by AI. This will deliver content tailored to your favorite sports or teams, as explained by Iger at an investment conference in May. When you open the ESPN App to watch “SportsCenter,” Iger said, it should recognize that I’m a Knicks fan, and they are actively working on this feature.

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2024-11-14 17:25