Disney has announced that it will be rolling out its ESPN hub on the Disney Plus streaming service on December 4, following the successful launch of Hulu on the platform earlier this year. This move will give US subscribers access to select live games and studio programming within the Disney Plus app, with plans to launch an enhanced standalone ESPN streaming service in 2025. The addition of ESPN content to Disney Plus is seen as a first step in bringing sports to Disney Plus viewers and increasing engagement with the company’s bundle offerings.
The ESPN tile on Disney Plus will function similarly to the Hulu hub, requiring users to have a Disney bundle or standalone subscriptions for both services in order to access the content. While the selection of content on the ESPN tile will be smaller than the full ESPN library, it is meant to condition audiences to the presence of sports on Disney Plus. Additionally, existing ESPN Plus subscribers will be able to access ESPN Plus through the new tile, further integrating the two services within the Disney ecosystem.
The launch of ESPN on Disney Plus comes amidst new price increases across Disney’s streaming platforms, including Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Hulu with Live TV. Monthly pricing for Disney bundle offerings has also gone up, reflecting the company’s efforts to expand its streaming services and offerings. In addition to the ESPN tile on Disney Plus, Disney is gearing up for the launch of its standalone ESPN streaming service in the fall of 2025, following the shelving of the Venu Sports streaming venture earlier this year.
The Venu Sports streaming venture, a collaboration between Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, was put on hold due to an injunction issued in August, delaying its intended rollout. The partnership between ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery was expected to result in bundles that tie the new sports service with Disney Plus, Hulu, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max. Disney’s CEO Bob Iger has indicated that ESPN will pivot towards digital, while still maintaining a presence on linear platforms, allowing subscribers multiple access points to the digital product as the company continues to evolve its streaming offerings.
As Disney continues to expand its streaming services and offerings, the addition of the ESPN hub on Disney Plus marks a significant step towards integrating sports content within the Disney ecosystem. The rollout of the ESPN tile brings sports programming to Disney Plus viewers, with plans for a standalone ESPN streaming service in the future. Despite setbacks such as the shelving of the Venu Sports streaming venture, Disney remains committed to providing a diverse array of content to subscribers through its streaming platforms, with a focus on enhancing overall engagement and user experience.
