ESPN Is Trying to Make It Easier to Find Out Where Games Are Streaming
The ‘Where to Watch’ guide offers viewers information on how to stream or watch sports events on more than 250 linear and streaming sources.
With the dawn of each new season, it seems to get harder and harder to figure out where you can watch individual games. The top sports leagues in the United States illustrated that fact once again in 2024; the NBA recently signed new broadcasting deals that will see it move off of TNT, and embrace both NBC and Prime Video as new partners starting next year. The NFL also has a new broadcasting partner in 2024, as it will stream two Christmas Day games on Netflix for the first time. As the worldwide leader in sports, ESPN knows how hard it can be to find top sports events, which is why the Disney-owned sports empire is launching the “Where to Watch” feature on its website and mobile app. This new function will allow viewers to see where live sports are available on hundreds of different channels and streamers.
Key Details:
- Fans can customize the “Where to Watch” function so their favorite teams appear at the top of the screen.
- Browsers can see sports from more than 250 sources on the “Where to Watch” guide.
- The “Where to Watch” function will be closely integrated with ESPN’s new streaming service launching in 2025.
Watch a Short Preview of the ‘Where to Watch’ Feature:
ESPN’s newly expanded “Where to Watch” feature is made up of two main elements. First is the Favorites section, where viewers can select their favorite teams from top sports leagues like the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and many others and see their live events at the top of the screen. Users who have not selected their favorite teams can do so from within the “Where to Watch” interface.
Below the Favorites section is the “Where to Watch” guide, which offers all of the top live sporting events available at a given time. If they are on ESPN channels, the guide offers links for viewers to sign in using TV Everywhere credentials and start streaming right away.
“We built this with the sports fan in mind,” ESPN executive director of product management Chris Jason said. “As sports viewing has become fragmented across many TV networks and streaming platforms, it has become more difficult and confusing than ever for people to know where they can watch their favorite teams, players, and sports on any given night.”
How Many Sources Does ESPN’s ‘Where to Watch’ Guide Pull From?
Jason also explained that ESPN has added support for more than 100 additional streaming services and TV networks, lifting the total number of potential media sources for sports events to over 250. In addition to nationally available games, the guide also shows fans where to stream titles on select regional sports networks. Monumental Sports Network and NESN both added their live events to the ESPN guide earlier this year.
Events on sources like Apple TV+, CBS, Fox, NBC, Peacock, and Prime Video are now available to see on the “Where to Watch” guide, and they could be just the beginning as ESPN prepares to expand its streaming options in the future. The company is launching an on-demand streaming platform currently known as “Flagship” in fall 2025, which could offer local-market games in addition to national contests.
The “Where to Watch” guide will link to that streamer as well once it becomes available, giving fans the option of streaming top ESPN events without a pay-TV subscription for the first time with its direct-to-consumer (DTC) Flagship platform.
“Where to Watch will be a great discoverability tool for fans to see the breadth of live sports that can be watched on our DTC service,” ESPN VP of Strategy Tim Bayus said. “And, while Where to Watch will link directly to our standalone direct-to-consumer product, we have built it to serve all fans – those subscribed to the ESPN DTC product and those who aren’t.”
The “Where to Watch” guide is an excellent addition by the worldwide leader in sports. The continued fragmentation of sports rights makes the necessity for such a service all the more urgent, and ESPN gets to continue promoting its own brand while simultaneously giving fans a feature they clearly want.
ESPN+
ESPN+ is a live TV streaming service that gives access to thousands of live sporting events, original shows like Peyton’s Place, the entire library of 30 for 30, E:60, The Last Dance, as well exclusive written analysis from top ESPN insiders. Sports available on ESPN+ include NFL, MLB, NHL, UFC, College Football, F1, Bundesliga, PGA Tour, La Liga, and more.