Vizio has launched the standalone ESPN app on its SmartCast-enabled TV sets, the company announced on Tuesday.
The rollout of the ESPN app on Vizio’s line-up of smart TVs is happening this week, and includes access to the streaming service ESPN Plus with an applicable subscription.
It marks the first time that all three Disney-owned streaming services have been available natively within Vizio’s SmartCast platform. Prior to this week, Vizio users could access ESPN Plus content within the Hulu app if they purchased an ESPN Plus subscription within that service, or if their Hulu subscription included the sports streamer.
“With our expanded relationship with Disney, Vizio audiences can now enjoy the ESPN app, ESPN Plus and the Disney Bundle Trio, offering a wide selection of live sports and entertainment,” Chris Tanquary, the senior director of business development at Vizio, said in a statement.
“ESPN has helped revolutionize sports storytelling, and we’re excited to bring live sports from the best leagues and biggest tournaments as well as their ground-breaking originals to Vizio’s millions of users,” Tanquary continued.
The ESPN app includes live access to the ESPN multiplex of sports networks with a cable or satellite subscription, or a subscription to a cable-like streaming service such as YouTube TV, Fubo or Vidgo.
The standalone ESPN Plus offers complementary sports programming that is separate from the multiplex cable network, though ESPN Plus occasionally simulcasts some events from ESPN. ESPN Plus requires a subscription, which costs $10 a month or $100 a year. It is also offered as part of the Disney Bundle Trio, which will soon cost $15 per month and includes Disney Plus.
The ESPN app will automatically appear on supported Vizio smart TVs, with no further download required.
