Breaking: ESPN’s Standalone Streaming Service Reportedly Set to Cost Between $25-$30 Monthly
Also, the joint venture between Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery is slated to cost between $40 and $50.
ESPN has been at the center of some of the biggest discussions in the streaming world for the past six weeks as the worldwide leader in sports is set to extend its move into streaming even further than it already has with its current direct-to-consumer (DTC) offering ESPN+. In addition to the joint venture that the sports leader is entering into with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery and is scheduled to launch this fall, ESPN is preparing to debut its own standalone streaming service that will finally encompass all of the myriad sports rights that the company owns. On Wednesday, The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that this streamer will cost between $25-$30 when it launches as early as August 2025.
- Having been in the works for nearly a year, ESN’s DTC service is scheduled to launch next fall.
- When it does, it will reportedly cost between $25 and $30 per month.
- ESPN is also working on a joint streaming venture with Fox and WBD to debut this fall.
Long the dream of sports fans around the world, in May 2023, it was initially reported that Disney was laying the groundwork to launch a streaming service that would house all of ESPN’s live sports rights, studio shows, and documentary specials. At the time, The Streamable’s expert prediction on the price for the DTC service was $44.99 per month, but a lot has changed in the sports and streaming worlds in the past 10 months.
Marchand, one of the most trusted names in sports media reporting, said that sources familiar with the company’s plans have targeted a price range for the service between $25 and $30, putting it far below a traditional cable, satellite, or live TV streaming service, and in the same ballpark for team and region-specific in-market streamers like Bally Sports+, YES App, MSG+, Monumental Sports Network App, and others.
Due to ESPN’s cultural footprint and respect among consumers, it appears that executives believe that they can price the DTC service at a relatively reasonable rate and draw enough subscribers to make it worthwhile financially. When compared to the in-market services, not only will the forthcoming ESPN platform be available nationwide but will carry exponentially more content than those from regional sports networks (RSNs). So, by setting the service at or just above the price point for its regional competitors, ESPN is establishing that its offering is a substantial value to consumers.
Also noted in Marchand’s report is that the streaming sports joint venture between Disney, Fox, and WBD is slated to cost $40-$50 per month, which is exactly the range that The Streamable predicted last month.
Traditional pay-TV distributors lost over 7 million customers last year, meaning that ESPN — as well as Fox and WBD — are losing significant portions of the revenue that has long made sports broadcasting profitable. As everything in the entertainment industry moves more toward streaming, everyone is trying to find the right way to meet consumers where they are. Bundling products with competing companies and pricing a premium product at a price below initial industry expectations are certainly risks, but as the volatile entertainment landscape continues to evolve, they might be the best ways to stay alive and in viewers’ homes.
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.