ESPN+

ESPN+
ESPN+'s logo
Founded April 12, 2018 (2018-04-12)
Headquarters United States
Area served United States
Owner Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International
(The Walt Disney Company)[1]
Website plus.espn.com
Launched April 12, 2018 (2018-04-12)
Current status Active

ESPN Plus (stylized as ESPN+) is an over-the-top video streaming subscription service available in the United States, provided by sports broadcaster ESPN Inc. and Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

ESPN+ is marketed as an add-on subscription on top of ESPN's core linear networks, with content similar to or having been exclusively moved to the service from ESPN3 (thus having been paywalled over WatchESPN, which offered the streams at no-charge to ESPN subscribers), such as combat sports, college sports (including exclusive coverage of Ivy League events), cricket, rugby union, soccer (including out-of-market Major League Soccer matches), and tennis.[2] The National Hockey League and Major League Baseball's out-of-market sports packages are sold through the platform as add-ons. The service also features archive content and ESPN original documentaries, and access to premium content on ESPN.com. As of September 20, 2018, the service has over 1 million paying subscribers only five months after launch.[3]

History

In August 2016, The Walt Disney Company acquired a minority stake in BAMTech, a spin-out of MLB Advanced Media's streaming technology business, for $1 billion, with an option to acquire a majority stake in the future. It was also announced that Disney subsidiary ESPN was planning to develop an over-the-top service based on BAMTech technology as "an exploratory OTT project", drawing primarily from ESPN-owned rights for events not broadcast on television. ESPN already used BAMTech's platform for its TV Everywhere service WatchESPN. Disney CEO Bob Iger remarked that despite declines in the pay television industry due to cord cutting, "live sports has really thrived, even in a world where there's so much more for people to do and to watch."[4][5]

In August 2017, Disney invoked its option to acquire a majority stake in BAMTech, and announced that it planned to launch its ESPN OTT service in 2018, followed by a Disney entertainment OTT service in 2019 (thus ending its relationship with Netflix). At this time, Disney stated that the new ESPN service would draw from ESPN-owned sports rights, as well as MLB, NHL, and Major League Soccer content (although lacking major ESPN-owned rights such as the NBA and NFL), and that an accompanying redesign of the ESPN app would make it a "premier digital destination" for sports content.[6] During Disney's fourth-quarter earnings call, Iger revealed that the service would be known as ESPN Plus.[7] In December 2017, Disney announced its intent to acquire 21st Century Fox after the spin-off of certain businesses. The deal was to include the Fox Sports Networks group of regional sports networks (however Disney was ordered to divest them under antitrust grounds),[8] which led to suggestions that Disney wanted the networks to order to incorporate their respective local sports rights into the service.[9]

In February 2018, Iger stated that ESPN was aiming for a monthly price of $4.99.[10][11] ESPN+ and BAMTech were placed into the newly formed Disney business segment, Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International, on March 14, 2018.[1] On April 2, 2018, ESPN announced that ESPN Plus would officially launch on April 12, 2018, and confirmed its $4.99 per-month pricing.[2]

On August 21, 2018, ESPN announced that it was discontinuing its existing ESPN Insider subscription service and merging it into ESPN+, adding access to premium ESPN.com content (such as exclusive beat reports, and advanced statistics and analytics tools) to the service. Both services shared the same monthly price, but existing annual subscribers will be grandfathered under ESPN Insider's previous $39.99 per-year price (as opposed to $49.99 for ESPN+). All former ESPN Insider subscribers will continue to receive the complimentary subscription to ESPN The Magazine that was part of the subscription.[12]

Programming

The service will focus primarily on overflow content similar to that of ESPN's existing digital service ESPN3 (which is distributed to subscribers of participating internet and television subscribers), though some of ESPN3's content will be shifted exclusively to ESPN+, such as most Canadian Football League coverage.[13][14] Its launch content includes boxing (including Top Rank events and archive content through 2025),[15] college sports events (including Ivy League events, with the conference having reached a 10-year media rights deal with ESPN prior to the service's launch),[16] coverage of Tennis Grand Slams, as well as international cricket (Cricket Ireland and New Zealand Cricket), soccer (including Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League, the English Football League, Serie A,[17] Eredivisie and UEFA Nations League)[18] and rugby union events (including SANZAAR tournaments, Bledisloe Cup, Currie Cup, Major League Rugby, Mitre 10 Cup, Pro14, and the World Rugby Sevens Series).[14] In October 2018, ESPN+ obtained the rights for the Swedish Allsvenskan and the Danish Superliga as well, declaring their intent to broadcast one match per week for each league.[19]

PGA Tour Live was included for the 2018 PGA Tour, but will move to NBC Sports Gold in 2019.[20]

ESPN+ features out of market Major League Soccer matches at no additional charge for subscribers (replacing the previous MLS Live service),[21][22] and the service holds exclusive rights to all regionally televised Chicago Fire matches through 2020 (as the second MLS team, behind Los Angeles FC's deal with YouTube TV, to sell its regional rights to a streaming service).[23][24] MLB.tv and NHL.tv (which are operated by BAMTech) are also available for purchase within the ESPN+ platform, and offer daily games during their regular seasons for ESPN Plus subscribers.[2] It also carries ESPN original programming and documentaries, such as the 30 for 30 franchise (one entry, The Last Days of Knight, was released exclusively on ESPN+), and exclusive original series.

ESPN+ does not include access to the full ESPN linear channels, as they will only be available through "traditional or non-traditional" television providers. Thus, ESPN's major professional sports rights, including National Football League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball coverage, are not included in the service.[10][2]

In May 2018, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced new five-year media rights deals with Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International, and ESPN, effective January 2019. 20 live UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night events per-year will be streamed exclusively by the service, as well as preliminaries for 10 live UFC on ESPN Fight Night events per-year. ESPN+ will also hold rights to supplemental content such as Dana White's Contender Series, archive content and PPV encores, and offer sales of UFC Fight Pass within the platform.[25][26][27][28]

Original programming

Exclusive original series have also been produced for ESPN+:

References

  1. 1 2 Wang, Christine (March 14, 2018). "Disney announces strategic reorganization, effective immediately". CNBC. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "ESPN+ will launch on April 12th for $4.99 per month". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  3. ↑ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bob-iger-disneys-streaming-service-james-gunn-star-wars-slowdown-1145493
  4. ↑ "What's Behind Disney's $1 Billion Investment in Major League Baseball's Digital Arm". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  5. ↑ Miller, Daniel (August 9, 2016). "Walt Disney Co. buys stake in video streaming service BAMTech". Los Angeles Times. Tronc. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  6. ↑ Spangler, Todd (August 8, 2017). "Disney to End Netflix Deal, Sets Launch of ESPN and Disney-Branded Streaming Services". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Disney Touts 2 New Streaming Services, Including ESPN Plus and One With a Live-Action Star Wars Series". Adweek. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  8. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (June 27, 2018). "Justice Department Approves Disney's Acquisition of 21st Century Fox With Divestiture of Regional Sports Networks". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Disney's pursuit of Fox RSNs could be big boost for ESPN". FierceCable. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  10. 1 2 "Disney sets price for new ESPN Plus streaming service at $4.99 per month". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  11. ↑ Lang, Brent (2018-02-06). "ESPN Streaming Service Coming This Spring for $4.99". Variety. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  12. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2018-08-21). "ESPN Insider Subscribers Being Switched to ESPN+ Streaming Service". Variety. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  13. ↑ "U.S. fans with cable will have to pay $5/month more to watch the 68 CFL games on ESPN+". Awful Announcing. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  14. 1 2 Theisen, Lauren. "ESPN's New $4.99-A-Month Service Is Taking Away Some Programming On ESPN3". Deadspin. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  15. ↑ Hayes, Dade (2018-08-02). "ESPN Sets Landmark Boxing Deal With Top Rank Through 2025". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
  16. ↑ "Smart TV: ESPN+ to air over 1,100 Ivy games". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  17. ↑ "ESPN enters into multi-year deal with Italy's Serie A". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  18. 1 2 "ESPN reveals entire soccer programming setup for ESPN+ that include MLS, UEFA matches and exclusive documentaries". Awful Announcing. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  19. ↑ https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2018/10/espn-and-espn-acquire-rights-to-coppa-italia-and-supercoppa-italiana/
  20. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2018-07-31). "NBC Sports, PGA Tour Ink Three-Year Deal for Live-Streaming Golf Subscription Package (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
  21. ↑ "ESPN's Web Service Gains Exclusive Pro Soccer Rights". Bloomberg.com. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  22. ↑ "How to watch out-of-market MLS matches in 2018". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  23. ↑ "FAQs: Chicago Fire on ESPN+". Chicago Fire. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  24. ↑ Pimiento, Juan. "Chicago Fire sign exclusive TV deal with ESPN+ streaming service". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  25. ↑ Hayes, Dade (2018-05-08). "ESPN Enters The Octagon With UFC Streaming Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  26. ↑ Hayes, Dade (2018-05-08). "ESPN Enters The Octagon With UFC Streaming Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  27. ↑ "Report: ESPN wrestles UFC television-rights deal away from Fox Sports". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  28. ↑ "Report: ESPN lands UFC television rights deal, reportedly worth $150 million per year". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  29. ↑ "Kobe Bryant to produce and star in new basketball analysis show 'Detail,' to air on ESPN+". Awful Announcing. 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  30. 1 2 "Quest for the Stanley Cup moves from Showtime to ESPN+". Awful Announcing. 2018-04-13. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  31. ↑ "ESPN+ To Live Stream Hundreds of Soccer Matches". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  32. ↑ "Disney kicks off its streaming future today with ESPN+". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  33. ↑ "The Long Read: Will Disney's push over the top see ESPN reclaim the summit?". SportsPro. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  34. ↑ "TV networks will be panning for talent as part of the rush to claim gambling gold". Sporting News. 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  35. ↑ Lucia, Joe (2 May 2018). "New ESPN digital shows include Katie Nolan late night show, daily SportsCenter series in ESPN app". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
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