ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service ESPN+ will officially launch April 12.
The service, available for $4.99 per month, is not a replacement for ESPN’s cable TV channel, but will offer sports fans original shows and films, an extensive on-demand library, and perhaps the biggest draw—thousands of live sports events, including MLB, MLS, and MHL games, along with boxing, PGA Tour events, tennis, rugby, and college sports.
ESPN+ will be integrated into the ESPN main app, which, according to a release will be “completely redesigned and reimagined.”
The upcoming launch marks Walt Disney Co.’s move into direct-to-consumer streaming services, as cord cutting continues to cut into traditional pay TV subscriber figures. A Disney-branded streaming service featuring Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm movies, as well as additional exclusive content, is slated to debut late next year.
Both services are powered by BAMtech, which Disney purchased a majority stake in last year.
“The launch of ESPN+ marks the beginning of an exciting new era of innovation for our media businesses – one defined by an increasingly direct and personal relationship with consumers,” Kevin Mayer, chairman of Direct-to-Consumer and International at The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement. “This new product reflects our direct-to-consumer strategy focused on combining our beloved brands with our proprietary, industry-leading technology to give users unparalleled access to our world-class content.”
