We finally have details on ESPN's new streaming service! The new streamer has been dubbed simply ESPN, and will cost $30 per month to subscribe to on a standalone basis. With that information now available, we thought it would be useful for customers to be able to compare the new ESPN streamer to similar, sports-focused streaming products that also offer top channels for less than a traditional cable package, namely the MySports Genre Pack from DIRECTV and the Orange plan from Sling TV. Dig into our comparison below!

What are the differences between DIRECTV MySports, Sling TV, and ESPN?

What channels are on each service?

The major differences between the services are the number and scope of the channels. Obviously, the ESPN streamer exclusively carries Disney-owned sports networks. DIRECTV’s MySports offers a wider selection of sports channels, with a few other random channels included presumably to appease their owners who otherwise wouldn’t allow for the sports channels’ inclusion. Finally, Sling Orange is not as sports-focused as the other two options. While it has more sports content, especially from ESPN, than the Sling Blue plan, it also includes over two dozen entertainment channels.

ESPN

The new ESPN streaming service will offer live coverage of everything on ESPN linear channels as well as everything on the current ESPN+ streaming service. This includes the flagship networks, as well as extra offerings like SEC Network, ESPNEWS, and all sporting events shown on ABC. Some of these channels are not widely available in live TV streaming base plans, even if you’re a Hulu + Live TV subscriber. You can see all the channels available on the new ESPN offering for $30 per month below.

DIRECTV MySports

The DIRECTV MySports channel package includes 20+ total networks, though the actual number can vary based on your market. MySports offers a variety of non-ESPN channels, though it doesn’t come with all of the ESPN content that you’ll get on the new ESPN streamer.

Highlights on MySports that can’t be watched with ESPN include local Fox stations and Fox Sports cable channels, the Turner Networks, NFL Network (which might soon be owned by ESPN), NBA TV, MLB Network, and NHL Network.

It is important to point out that DIRECTV MySports subscribers will get the new ESPN streamer as part of their subscription when it launches at no extra cost, so it’s helpful to factor the additional channels in as well.

Sling Orange

The Sling Orange package comes with 34 channels, though viewers can switch between it and the Sling Blue package at no extra cost when they sign up to watch the networks included in that plan, if they choose. Like DIRECTV’s MySports plan, Sling Orange carries a number of channels not found in the ESPN streaming service.

The Sling Blue channel does offer additional sports channels, like FS1 and FS2, so if you want as many sports as possible, you can combine them and get the entire lineup.

How does ESPN’s price compare to DIRECTV, Sling TV?

With a starting cost of $30 per month for a maximum of 13 channels, ESPN will seem somewhat pricey to those who already have a pay-TV bundle. Viewers can mitigate this cost by selecting an annual plan or by including ESPN in their version of the Disney Bundle. As a standalone service, customers will pay around $2.30 per channel in the ESPN lineup.

With DIRECTV’s MySports plan, viewers end up paying around $2.92 per channel every month. However, the inclusion of ESPN+ for free in the MySports package helps to boost the value of this service. Overall, MySports costs $70 per month.

The cost of Sling Orange comes out to $46 per month for 34 channels, or $1.35 per channel. This is the cheapest per-channel rate of any of the three services, but Sling TV does not include any extras in its base price for free.

Which service is best?

This question will come down to the individual viewer. If you’ve already cut the cord or have never subscribed to a pay-TV plan but want more access to live sports, ESPN is probably the way to go. You can mix and match it with other sports streaming services like Paramount+, Peacock, or Fox One (launching fall 2025) to get exactly the level of coverage you want, and though $30 per month is a bit pricier than some, it’s still considerably less than a live TV streamer like Fubo or YouTube TV.

If you’re a Sling Orange subscriber already, there’s no real reason to cancel your subscription unless you find you’re not watching TNT or the other channels in your plan with regularity. There are some channels included in ESPN like ACC Network and ESPNU that don’t come included in a Sling TV base plan, but the Sports Extra add-on pack will give you access to these channels and allow you to keep the ones you have already for $11 per month on top of your $46 base package.

DIRECTV MySports customers don’t really have to make a choice, since they’ll get access to the new ESPN streamer at no cost when it comes out this fall. But like Sling TV, if you are a MySports customer who primarily watches ESPN channels with your subscription, cancellation may be in order. You’ll stand to save $40 per month by switching to ESPN only, if the other channels in the MySports bundle aren’t ones you frequently watch.