Roger Fingas
Disney on Thursday launched ESPN+, its entirely internet-based sports streaming service intended to appeal to cord-cutters using technology that it will likely use to launch its own streaming service in the near future.
The service costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, and is focused heavily on live coverage of pro baseball, hockey, and soccer, and to a lesser extent sports like basketball, boxing, auto racing, rugby, and tennis. Conspicuously missing from the equation is NFL football, though missing leagues may be added later.
By default, live games will stream at 60 frames per second. Subscribers also get on-demand access to ESPN's "30 for 30" documentaries, and some exclusive shows, such as "Detail" — set to air during the NBA playoffs, and hosted by Kobe Bryant — as well as the eight-part "Draft Academy."
ESPN+ is based on technology from BAMTech, which Disney acquired a 33 percent stake in for about $1 billion in August 2017. The company is prominent in the video streaming industry, some other clients being the NHL, MLB, PGA, WWE, and HBO Now.
The service is being positioned as complementary to the main ESPN channels, and as such will actually lack some flagship shows, particularly "SportsCenter."
Launch platforms include iOS, Apple TV, Android/Chromecast, Amazon devices, and the Web. On Apple devices, ESPN+ is included as an option within the main ESPN app, which has been updated for compatibility as well as a new user interface.
Disney is using it as a test-bed and foundation for its own forthcoming streaming service that will raise the ante for Apple's upcoming video efforts. Apple is expected to launch its first slate of high-budget programming as soon as March 2019, with the help of a number of high-profile industry executives led by Jamie Ehrlicht and Zach Van Amburg.
Apple, though, is focusing primarily on scripted content, the most recent addition being an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's sci-fi epic "Foundation." Other sci-fi shows include an "Amazing Stories reboot and a drama from "Battlestar Galactica" veteran Ronald Moore.
Other planned vehicles include a sketch show starring Kristin Wiig, and a morning talk show drama with Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. Rapper and frequent Apple Music collaborator Drake has allegedly been granted a blank check to work on shows and movies.
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12 Comments
Don’t really see how this competes with Apple’s rumored video service at all. Apple getting into live sports broadcasting and I missed it? Don’t know how successful this will be. No SportsCenter & no sports/events that are being broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU. So it’s going to be very niche.
I hate ESPN right now. This new paid service is a slap in the face to us soccer fans. It's really disappointing ESPN has decided to move the daily soccer show ESPNFC to this crap. Looks like we are going to start paying for all the other soccer matches in Europe that are usually shown with your current subscription on ESPN3.
Disney is horrible and no one is going to pay for their limited content. I love how they're the only ones who don't upgrade movies to 4K on ATV. Too much of a PC company as well... Sad!
Yeah good luck with that. People are ditching cable because they are tired of paying for bundled sports packages with ESPN. Their subscribers are disappearing. When you see a network with an app that unbundles their channel, they are collapsing.