Executives at ESPN have revealed the price point for the sports brand’s forthcoming streaming service that will offer its live cable networks through the Internet: $30 per month.
The service, launching later this year through the ESPN app for phones, tablets and smart TVs, will offer ESPN’s complete multiplex cable package — ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPNews, SEC Network, ACC Network and ESPN Deportes — along with access to streaming services ESPN Plus, ESPN 3, SEC Network Plus and ACC NX, the company revealed.
When it debuts, it will be the first time that ESPN is offered beyond a traditional pay TV package or outside a “skinny” cable bundle launched by a pay TV distributor.
“We are providing everything ESPN has to offer directly to fans and all in one place,” Jimmy Pitaro, the Chairman of ESPN, said in a statement. “As we thought about the name, we kept returning to the fact that, across every generation, ESPN is the most trusted, loved and recognized name in sports, and that we should keep it simple and double down on the power of ESPN. Our straightforward approach to name and pricing will help fans cut through the clutter, and provide them compelling options to access all our content within the enhanced ESPN App. It will be the ultimate sports destination for personalized experiences and features, and, on top of that, fans will be able to choose to bundle ESPN with the industry-leading Disney Plus and Hulu streaming services.”
Prices for those bundles will vary:
- At launch, ESPN will offer a special discounted bundle that pairs the ad-supported tiers of Disney Plus and Hulu with ESPN for $30 per month. That price will be good for one year.
- The normal price of ESPN will be $30 per month or $300 per year.
- A bundle that includes the ad-supported tier of Disney Plus and Hulu will cost $36 per month once ESPN moves on from the introductory bundle offer mentioned above.
- A bundle that includes ad-free access to the on-demand catalogs of Disney Plus and Hulu will cost $45 per month, though ads will still be present in live content across all three services.
The company will continue offering ESPN Plus, a standalone streaming service that includes a schedule of live athletic competitions typically not aired on the ESPN cable channels. Occasionally, ESPN Plus simulcasts a premium event from the cable networks, such as “Monday Night Football” or NBA playoff games, though this isn’t a typical scenario. ESPN Plus costs $12 per month or $120 per year, with bundles available that pair that service with Disney Plus and Hulu.
That said, most die-hard sports fans will likely look hard at the ESPN streaming service, since it includes ESPN Plus, and at a rate that undercuts the typical cable or satellite TV package. For $30 per month or $300 per year, ESPN executives promise sports fans will have access to more than 32,000 live sports events annually, plus on-demand replays and access to original content like “E:60” and “30 for 30.” Studio shows like SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, The Pat McAfee Show, Pardon the Interruption, College GameDay and NBA Today will also be available through the ESPN app with a subscription to ESPN.
