Understanding the New ESPN Streaming Services
ESPN, a leading name in sports broadcasting, has launched its direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service. This new offering comes with two distinct subscription plans: ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select. These services provide fans with direct access to ESPN’s sports programming without the need for a traditional cable plan or live TV service.
For sports enthusiasts who already use TV antennas to receive major broadcasters like NBC, FOX, ABC, and CBS for free, this transition is a significant advantage. The following details explain how to sign up for these services, their costs, and the range of live sports and studio programming available from the launch day.
Live Programming Highlights
This week, the live programming includes events such as the US Open Qualifying, TOUR Championship golf, and the Little League World Series. These offerings ensure that fans have access to a wide variety of sports content right from the start.
ESPN Unlimited: The Comprehensive Offering
The ESPN Unlimited package is designed to be the most comprehensive tier, providing access to ESPN’s full suite of linear networks directly to fans for the first time. Subscribers to ESPN Unlimited will gain:
- Access to linear networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, and ESPN Deportes.
- Programming from ESPN on ABC.
- Programming available from ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX.
- Live NFL games typically shown on NFL Network.
- Exclusive home for WWE Premium Live Events.
- Additional non-exclusive preseason NFL games for its DTC offering.
ESPN Unlimited promises access to over 47,000 live events annually, along with on-demand replays, a full slate of studio shows, and original programming. The standalone price for ESPN Unlimited is $29.99 per month or $299.99 for an annual subscription. It can also be bundled with Disney+ and Hulu, with a special launch offer including the trio bundle for $29.99 per month for the first 12 months (with ads on Disney+/Hulu).
ESPN Unlimited with NFL+ Premium, NFL RedZone
Subscribers to ESPN Unlimited can purchase the ESPN/NFL+ Premium Bundle, which combines access to every “Monday Night Football” game on ESPN with the full suite of NFL+ Premium features. This add-on unlocks NFL Network, NFL RedZone for live game-day coverage, and an archive of NFL Films content. The bundle is priced at a discounted rate of $39.99 per month and can be added to the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Trio bundle.
Is ESPN Unlimited the Same as Cable TV?
ESPN Unlimited effectively provides "cable ESPN, but via streaming" without requiring a traditional cable subscription. The enhanced ESPN app has new features planned for launch that you won’t find on ESPN’s linear channels, such as multi-view, enhanced personalization, integration of stats, betting, fantasy sports, and commerce, and a personalized SportsCenter.
The ESPN app will offer more features and functionality than any linear channel can provide. There will also be a far greater volume of sports covered on the ESPN app than is covered on linear channels. Additionally, ESPN will gain the ability to sell and bundle NFL+ Premium, which includes NFL RedZone, to its DTC subscribers starting in the 2025 season, and this can be bundled with the Trio bundle of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN.
ESPN Select: The Evolution of ESPN+
ESPN Select is essentially the new name for the existing ESPN+ service. It offers a curated lineup of live sports and on-demand shows for a lower price. It includes live events like college football from FCS conferences, the NFL Draft, the PGA Tour, European Soccer, out-of-market NHL and MLB games, and PPV events for UFC and boxing.
It also includes college basketball, Formula 1, major tennis tournaments like Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. The Masters golf tournament, TGL, and NCAA Championships are also included. Studio shows such as “SportsCenter,” “College GameDay,” and “First Take” are part of ESPN Select.
Key Differences Between ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select
The primary difference is that ESPN Unlimited provides access to the linear ESPN channels (ESPN, ESPN2, etc.) plus the ESPN+ content, while ESPN Select only provides the content currently found on ESPN+. ESPN Unlimited includes a significantly larger volume and variety of live events and programming, encompassing the core ESPN broadcasts from its cable networks that feature major leagues and popular studio shows.
It will offer more than 47,000 live events each year, a full slate of studio shows (like “SportsCenter,” “First Take,” “Get Up,” “NFL Live,” “The Pat McAfee Show,” “Pardon the Interruption,” “College GameDay,” and “NBA Today”), and extensive original programming. That includes Monday Night Football, which airs weekly on ESPN. Many of those games are also simulcast on ABC.
Advertising on ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select
Both plans include advertisements during live events and studio shows, much like traditional linear television. If you opt for bundle options with Disney+ and Hulu, those platforms may offer ad-supported or ad-free experiences.
Downloading the New ESPN App
The existing ESPN App itself will not be replaced by a new one; instead, it will be enhanced with new features available to all users, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package. The ESPN+ brand, familiar to many, will also continue to exist by name, available through the ESPN App, Disney+ App, or certain pay TV packages. Existing ESPN+ subscribers automatically transition to the ESPN Select plan.
Getting ESPN Unlimited with Cable or Satellite
Fans who subscribe to ESPN through a traditional cable, satellite, or streaming TV package will continue to be able to authenticate within the ESPN app. This authentication will provide access to the full range of streaming ESPN channels included in their pay TV package.
Enhanced Features and Bundling Experience
The launch of the new ESPN service will coincide with the introduction of a series of enhancements to the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices like Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The new features, such as multi-view, integration of stats, and betting, will be available to all fans using the ESPN App, regardless of whether customers subscribe directly to the new DTC service or through an old school cable or satellite TV package.
Live Sports Access on ESPN Unlimited vs ESPN Select
Subscribers will have access to a wide variety of live sports across both tiers of the DTC plans. The most noticeable difference between ESPN Unlimited and a cable or another live TV plan may come from the additional NFL coverage. There will be 7 live NFL games typically shown on NFL Network. ESPN now offers a bundle with NFL+ Premium, which includes NFL RedZone, to its DTC subscribers.
How to Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited
You can subscribe directly to ESPN Unlimited at their website or ESPN.com. Before signing up for ESPN Unlimited, you might want to explore other plans that carry ESPN, such as DIRECTV MySports and even the new FOX-One ESPN bundle. At Antenna Land, we focus on finding the cheapest ways to watch TV, including ESPN. Skinny sports bundles like ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select are great because you can already get major broadcasters like NBC and FOX for free with a TV antenna.
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