ESPN DTC Streaming

[WillisWG]

• ESPN linear networks available direct to fans for first time ever in early fall
• Two ESPN subscription plans and Disney bundling options available
• ESPN unlimited plan priced at $29.99 per month; select plan at $11.99
• Special offer at launch: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN unlimited bundle at $29.99/month for first 12 months
• Enhanced ESPN App to introduce new features, personalized fan-friendly experiences

The unlimited plan will give fans access to all of ESPN’s linear networks – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes – in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX, covering 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, studio shows, original programming, and more. ESPN’s unprecedented rights portfolio includes the NFL; NBA; NHL; MLB; WNBA; UFC; UFL; SEC; ACC; Big 12; College Football Playoff; 40 NCAA championships including the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship; LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL, and FA Cup soccer; Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open tennis; The Masters, PGA Championship, PGA TOUR, and TGL golf; Little League World Series baseball and softball; Premier Lacrosse League; and more. ESPN’s leading studio shows include the iconic SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, The Pat McAfee Show, Pardon the Interruption, College GameDay, NBA Today, and others, along with on-demand content including 30 for 30 films, ESPN Originals, and more.

• Monthly subscription: $29.99
• Annual subscription: $299.99
• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN unlimited bundle: $35.99/month (with ads on Disney+/Hulu), $44.99/month (no ads on Disney+/Hulu*)
• Special offer at launch: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN unlimited bundle for $29.99/month for the first 12 months (with ads on Disney+/Hulu)

Existing ESPN+ subscribers will automatically become subscribers to ESPN’s new service, based on their current subscription level. Standalone ESPN+ subscribers get the ESPN select plan, and Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle subscribers get the ESPN select bundle.

New Direct-to-Consumer Offering to be Singularly Branded ESPN

Recognizing the deep connection the ESPN brand has established with sports fans and the significance of the moment, the new..

espnpressroom.com

 

[95 Vol Alum]

Getting confusing as hell.

 

[imw8n4u]

I wonder how long before espn splits off from traditional cable/satellite providers and just becomes subscription only. Seems like it's headed in that direction.

 

[508mikey]

I wonder how long before espn splits off from traditional cable/satellite providers and just becomes subscription only. Seems like it's headed in that direction.

would be fine with me - only shows I watch other than sports is Chicago Med and PD - I dont need to be paying for food- reality - garbage I never watch

 

[stolitonic]

I really dunno about this......

I suppose during the height of CFB season I might consider this for a few months though. What is it, from early October until Thanksgiving--there is football on every night?

Honestly, with all the live TV streaming providers out there-I have been switching back and forth for the last six months. Get a reduced rate for a month trial, cancel it, then sign up for another service the next month lol. Every six months you can start over with another trial so it works for the minimal amount of live TV I watch not during FB season.

Plus, gives me an opportunity to try all the services so can decide which offers the best package for FB season.

 

[508mikey]

Getting confusing as hell.

I get all that on cable now - so whats the point in paying for that too ?

 

[stolitonic]

I get all that on cable now - so whats the point in paying for that too ?

There is no point-for now.

Pretty obvious that ESPN intends to eventually go their own way. I'm sure it will work out for them during FB season. Would I gladly pay $30 to ESPN and do away with $90 cable/streaming between September and December-yup.

In June though, am I really gonna pay $30 to watch whatever crap they have on right now? Nope.

I would wager they will eventually try to do something like Sunday Ticket where you are stuck paying for a year of programming for a 3-4 month FB season.

 

[Voltopia]

29.99 is too much. Don't care for it at that price. I'm not interested in paying to put money in the Big 10's pocket. Or the NBA. Or the NFL.

And while I'm kicking at this turd, I find myself somewhat speechless at how little I care for any of their modern studio content. I'm not totally surprised, as it's stunk for a while, but ... wow ... it's all garbage hot take clickbait crap now. Pat McAfee, College Gameday, NBA Today ... I mean, wow. Those all really suck. They ought to be paying us to watch 'em.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

It'll all be more expensive a la carte and what happens when you want to watch Fox or other news for a critical current event and it goes subscription on your phone (as the trend is now) and all you have is ESPN?

We'll end up with $30 for ESPN, $30 for whatever national news we choose, and whatever Netflix costs or what my wife insists on.

The key is them shifting your phone news, sports, etc to subscription too, essentially cutting off TV and your phone until you crack and subscribe.

 

[CDB]

I have been doing this through Hulu for years. The nice thing about it was you could turn the ESPN package off during seasons you weren’t watching sports. But, with baseball being streamed it’s pretty much a year-round thing now.

Then Disney offered the bundle and I had kids that wanted Disney at the time so it made sense. It wasn’t a bad deal for Disney, Hulu, full ESPN access and a DVR. We never watch Disney now so I’m not sure if I could save money going back to just Hulu and ESPN but it’s so convenient I don’t really think it would be worth the hassle.

Back when we had cable, my wife was complaining about the cable bill. She asked why we needed the sports package. I told her that’s the only thing I cared about and if we didn’t have the sports package, I didn’t care if we even had cable. She asked me if I could just go down to the bar when the game was on. I told her, “I thought you wanted to save money…“

 

[Vol423]

There is no point-for now.

Pretty obvious that ESPN intends to eventually go their own way. I'm sure it will work out for them during FB season. Would I gladly pay $30 to ESPN and do away with $90 cable/streaming between September and December-yup.

In June though, am I really gonna pay $30 to watch whatever crap they have on right now? Nope.

I would wager they will eventually try to do something like Sunday Ticket where you are stuck paying for a year of programming for a 3-4 month FB season.

NFL Sunday Ticket's value has been seriously reduced by the fact that the NFL now plays Monday night games, Thursday night games, Sunday night games, Thanksgiving and Christmas day games that are all available without NFL Sunday Ticket. Without NFL Sunday Ticket, you don't really lose access to very many games anymore. I got NFL Sunday Ticket the first year it went to YoutubeTV. I didn't renew it after the first year.

 

[mackievol]

There is no point-for now.

Pretty obvious that ESPN intends to eventually go their own way. I'm sure it will work out for them during FB season. Would I gladly pay $30 to ESPN and do away with $90 cable/streaming between September and December-yup.

In June though, am I really gonna pay $30 to watch whatever crap they have on right now? Nope.

I would wager they will eventually try to do something like Sunday Ticket where you are stuck paying for a year of programming for a 3-4 month FB season.

You don't want to watch Cornhole and kickball on ESPN in June ?

 

[VOLtaism]

Every sports event I have wanted to watch recently has been streamed on YouTube.

 

[stolitonic]

You don't want to watch Cornhole and kickball on ESPN in June ?

Lol. If I ever come on this board and start posting about being a kickball and corn hole fan-I hereby give you folks the upfront OK to conduct a serious Code Red (or would it be a Code Orange in this case?) With extreme prejudice. I would fully deserve it ha ha.

 

[stolitonic]

NFL Sunday Ticket's value has been seriously reduced by the fact that the NFL now plays Monday night games, Thursday night games, Sunday night games, Thanksgiving and Christmas day games that are all available without NFL Sunday Ticket. Without NFL Sunday Ticket, you don't really lose access to very many games anymore. I got NFL Sunday Ticket the first year it went to YoutubeTV. I didn't renew it after the first year.

I'm not a HUGE NFL fan. I kind of just watch it to fill the time more than anything. If Akron was playing Toledo in FB on the Ocho-I would watch that over Chiefs/Eagles.

NFL has just gotten obscene lately-need Amazon for this, Peacock for that, blah blah blah.

Just not worth it anymore

At least for the time being-every UT football game is available with a pretty basic cable or streaming subscription

Honestly, it always amazed me that when I first moved to Texas almost 20 years ago that I got to see every UT football game on cable. This was even before SEC network and any streaming service. Our brand was just THAT strong back then.