Disney is now integrating ESPN Plus programming within the Disney Plus app, similar to how it did with Hulu content earlier this year.
The homescreen of the app will soon include a new ESPN tile. Since it will only currently feature the live games and shows that are typically a part of ESPN Plus, the tile just reads “ESPN.” However, a long-awaited ESPN streaming service will launch next year. This is the real cable channel that sports fans can’t live without, and it will eventually be available through this Disney Plus portal as well.
Disney’s goal in combining all of this content under one umbrella is to increase the number of individuals who sign up for the triple-package bundle that includes Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus. Additionally, clients who may currently only be paying for the core service may find that bundle more alluring the less friction there is. Disney Plus subscribers now get access to “a curated selection of live sports events and shows from ESPN Plus and movies and series from Hulu,” which will help promote the package even more. Even if you are not paying for ESPN or Hulu, the tiles for both services will now show up in the main menu.
“This gives our bundle subscribers one place to consume everything they love from all our brands.” Alisa Bowen, president of Disney Plus, said in a press release. ESPN Plus offers access to “over 30,000 live sports events each year” along with plenty of original content. But this is really just a half-step towards the end goal of bringing real, linear ESPN to the service. Disney says what we’re seeing today is “the groundwork for an expanded sports offering on Disney Plus in the US upon the launch of ESPN’s flagship direct-to-consumer product, expected in fall of 2025.”
That ESPN streaming service, which has been speculated to cost up to $30 a month, is anticipated to start as early as August. For ESPN only, yes. Disney Plus will allow you to watch it, but according to CEO Bob Iger, the ESPN app will provide a more feature-rich sports experience with integrated fantasy leagues and betting. For those who like the ease of having everything in one app, there is the Disney alternative.
Disney is committed to turning its streaming business into a steady source of revenue, and bundles and ad-supported plans are where the real money lies. Now that ESPN content is available for streaming on Disney Plus, advertisers will be able to buy inventory “by sport, league, team, within live events, and across all marketplaces.” Additionally, the company has taken action against password sharing, charging users $6.99 to $9.99 for allowing someone else to access their Disney Plus account from a separate location.
It seems certain that the price of a Disney Plus subscription will continue to rise. Disney will undoubtedly justify such increases by pointing to the app’s usefulness as a comprehensive entertainment hub, which now includes sports. All of this may seem like cable to the end user, but that’s the streaming environment we live in.
ESPN will Launch on the Disney Plus App Today
