Charter Communications is now offering customers of its Spectrum TV service free access to the Walt Disney Company’s sports streamer ESPN Plus if they subscribe to the company’s new Spectrum TV Select Plus plan.
The deal builds on an agreement reached between Charter and Disney last year that involves the cable and broadband company purchasing wholesale access to Disney-own streaming services, including Disney Plus and Hulu, to Spectrum TV customers with certain plans.
Starting this week, customers with Spectrum TV Select Plus plans will have free access to ESPN Plus as part of their service. The ESPN Plus app is available on Spectrum’s Internet-connected set-top boxes, including the Xumo Stream Box and most interactive cable boxes. With a Spectrum TV username and password, ESPN Plus is also accessible on other streaming platforms like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Android TV (Google TV) from within the ESPN app.
“Through our collaboration with Disney we are providing a better experience for our customers,” Tom Montenegro, the Executive Vice President of Programming at Charter, said in a statement. “Making ESPN Plus available to our TV Select Plus customers allows us to cater to sports fans’ evolving viewing habits with one high-value video package that includes the best of linear and direct-to-consumer sports content.”
Spectrum TV Select Plus is $10 more when compared to Spectrum TV Select Signature, a stripped-down programming package that primarily focuses on general entertainment channels. By comparison, Spectrum TV Select Plus offers regional sports networks (where available) and national sports channels like NHL Network, NFL Network and NBA TV.
In addition to ESPN Plus, Spectrum TV Select Plus customers also have access to Disney Plus as part of their service plan. Those who signed up for Disney Plus can use those same credentials to access ESPN Plus.
“The addition of ESPN Plus to Spectrum’s offerings helps bridge the gap between linear TV and streaming services to provide a comprehensive entertainment solution for Spectrum customers,” Justin Connolly, the President of Platform Distribution at the Walt Disney Company, said on Thursday. “Spectrum TV Select Plus customers will now have access to ESPN’s linear and direct-to-consumer content, making ESPN Plus available to a wider audience and providing fans with even more ways to stay connected to the sports they love such as NCAA Women’s Basketball, FA Cup Soccer, NHL games and more.”
ESPN Plus typically costs $11 per month or $110 per year when purchased as a standalone service. The streamer is also available as part of the Disney Trio Bundle, which costs between $15 and $25 per month, which also includes access to either the ad-supported or ad-free versions of Disney Plus and Hulu.
Spectrum TV Select Plus and ESPN Plus subscribers have access to a number of live sports programming offered through the service, including events from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the National Hockey League (NHL), Formula 1, La Liga, Bundesliga, Wimbledon Championships, U.S. Open, PGA Tour, Top Rank and Professional Fighters League (PFL), among others. Select National Football League (NFL) games aired on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” are also available throughout the season, depending on the week and match-up.
In addition to live sports, ESPN Plus offers the iconic sports brand’s documentaries and docuseries, including the magazine programs “E:60” and “ESPN 30 for 30,” and exclusive originals like “The Last Dance” chronicling the dynasty of the Chicago Bulls and “Man in the Arena,” a docuseries focused on retired quarterback Tom Brady.
