On the corporate’s quarterly earnings call at the moment, Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned the previously-announced standalone ESPN streaming service will arrive by the autumn of 2025. The corporate had already tipped the service, which Iger defined will provide “the total suite” of ESPN networks as a streaming possibility, however a basic launch date or any further particulars hadn’t been revealed.
Iger mentioned that the standalone ESPN providing will serve up the reside video games and studio programming that is presently obtainable on a number of cable channels. What’s extra, the service will present entry to ESPN Wager and fantasy sports activities alongside detailed stats and purchasing. After all, all of that may also embrace “strong personalization,” based on Iger.
These new particulars come a day after Disney introduced it could staff up with Fox and Warner Brothers Discovery on a combined sports streaming service this fall. The yet-to-be-named possibility will embrace video games from NFL, MLB, NHL and the NBA by way of channels together with ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV and ESPN. There is not any phrase on pricing but, however subscribers will have the ability to bundle it with their present Disney+, Hulu, and Max subscriptions. Which means you will really have the ability to stream ESPN networks with no cable or different reside TV subscription earlier than Disney’s personal standalone service launches. Nonetheless, the combo effort is bound to be dearer because it mashes up all of these further channels from Fox and Warner Brothers Discovery.
Disney already affords ESPN+ as a substitute for cable. The service makes reside video games obtainable for streaming, but it surely does not present entry to motion because it airs on ESPN networks. For that motive ESPN+ has been complement to the cable channels, however Disney hasn’t but mentioned how its providers will exist after fall of subsequent yr.
Standalone ESPN may also be obtainable on Disney+ for bundle subscribers, similar to the corporate has executed with Hulu. No phrase on pricing for the brand new iteration of ESPN but both, however there’s additionally loads of time for Disney to hype the service between now and fall 2025. Iger did say that the the value “can be extra engaging” than the standard cable bundle.
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