The Walt Disney Company has been acquiring a stockpile of sports broadcasting rights over the last few months, and that buying spree will soon catch up with subscribers of its streaming service ESPN Plus.
Starting next month, Disney will raise the price of ESPN Plus to $7 a month or $70 a year, the second time the company has increase the cost of a subscription to the sports-centric service.
The move comes as Disney invests heavily in original programming and live sports for the service: Earlier this year, the company said it would bring live hockey games to ESPN Plus, followed by a commitment to simulcast some live National Football League (NFL) games as they air on broadcast and cable television.
In addition to those events, ESPN Plus regularly streams live broadcasts from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League, cricket, rugby and baseball. ESPN Plus also includes a slate of original programs like “The Fantasy Show,” a series on fantasy sports, and “Peyton’s Places” with former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.
Current and new customers can lock in one full year of ESPN Plus at the cheaper rate of $60 a year by signing up for the service before August 13. To get the cheaper rate, click or tap here. The service will also continue to be sold as part of a bundle with Disney Plus and Disney-owned Hulu for around $15 a month.
