ESPN Still Seeking League and Tech Partners for New Standalone Streamer; NFL Tops List of Potential Investors
The worldwide leader in sports is trying to meet streaming customers where they are by offering several products at different prices.
Move over, ESPN+, things are about to get a lot more crowded in the ESPN streaming family. New details about the standalone ESPN streaming platform, like its targeted launch date and a starting price point of $25-$30 per month were reported on Wednesday, and The Athletic's Andrew Marchand unveiled even more information about the streamer in a new story, such as details about ESPN’s continuing search for an equity partner to help launch the service.
- ESPN is still in talks with the NFL regarding an equity stake in its new streaming service.
- The network has already held discussions with Roku, Amazon, and other device manufacturers about dedicated streaming apps for their platforms.
- ESPN also has interest in offering in-market games locally for teams currently partnered with regional sports networks.
Marchand reports that ESPN is still in negotiations with the NFL about selling a minority stake in ESPN’s new standalone streamer to the league. The report indicates that ESPN is looking for one or two partners to buy minority stakes in its nascent service, as it has been for the past several months.
The NFL and NBA are ESPN’s top targets to sell minority equity shares to, but if things fall through with those leagues it could pivot to the NHL or MLB. The NFL’s interest in an ESPN investment was first reported in January, and a deal between the two could see assets like NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and NFL+ fall under ESPN’s control. Boosting the amount of NFL content offered by the standalone ESPN streamer could help draw even more customers to the platform.
Marchand reports that ESPN “sees alignment” with YouTube and its parent company Google when planning for the new ESPN streaming service. Google has long been seen as a logical investment partner for ESPN, as it could help distribute the new streamer on Google TV and Android TV platforms, advertise its offerings on YouTube, and more.
In addition, ESPN has begun laying the groundwork for the app to be distributed on major streaming devices like Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. Marchand says that the network has initiated discussions with all of these equipment manufacturers regarding the creation of dedicated apps for their devices, so fans will be able to find the new streaming platform as soon as they turn on their smart TV or streaming device.
The new ESPN streamer could even replace regional sports networks (RSNs). Marchand’s report indicates that ESPN wants to offer regional sports channels as add-ons in the streamer, giving the NBA, NHL, and MLB a new potential partner for offering customers in local markets new ways to stream their favorite teams’ games. ESPN could have competition from a revitalized Diamond Sports Group, whose Bally Sports channels currently own the streaming rights to more than 30 teams from the three leagues.
Will ESPN+ Bite the Dust When New ESPN Streamers Are Released?
As new details about the ESPN standalone service and the joint venture platform underway from Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery continue to trickle out, discussion of ESPN+ has largely been lost in the shuffle. The streamer that launched in 2018 carries thousands of live sports events every year, and though it doesn’t offer everything available on linear ESPN channels, it still carries top events like frequent “Monday Night Football” streams, every out-of-market NHL game of the season, and more.
But Marchand’s report indicates that ESPN wants to offer sports content at as many price points as possible in the future. That’s why it’s creating its own streaming service that will reportedly cost between $25 and $30 per month, as well as sending its content to the JV streamer with Fox and WBD. Network executives who have been briefed on the JV platform say that they expect it to be priced at between $40 and $50 per month, which is in line with The Streamable's own predictions.
The goal of offering customers sports at as many price points as possible could suggest that ESPN+ will continue to be available once the JV service and the ESPN standalone streamer launch. Its $10.99 monthly price point is a great entryway into the ESPN universe and may help the company upsell customers to its other streaming options if they find the content they want isn’t fully available with ESPN+.
It’s been a long road for ESPN since it peaked its availability at 100 million cable homes in 2011. Cord-cutting has ravaged the subscriber bases of every major pay-TV provider since then, and most companies are taking a financial beating as they attempt to navigate the shift from linear platforms to digital. ESPN has a clear plan for making the transition, and it hopes to enlist top sports leagues like the NFL in its journey to bring a full ESPN streaming service with no cable subscription required to market by the fall of 2025.
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.