Disney Announces Hold on to your jerseys, sports fans! While there won’t be a completely separate ESPN streaming service for now, Disney has announced plans to integrate ESPN content directly into Disney+ by 2025. This is a big shift for those who rely on cable for their sports fix.
Here’s the breakdown:
ESPN on Disney
Instead of a standalone app, ESPN will become part of the Disney+ platform. This is similar to how Disney+ currently offers content from Hulu.
Content galore:
The ESPN portion of Disney+ will include live sports like NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, along with classic ESPN shows like SportsCenter and the popular 30 for 30 documentary series.
More than games:
Disney is promising an “immersive, customizable sports experience” that could include fantasy sports integration and even sports gambling (depending on regulations).
This move seems to be a win-win for Disney. Sports fans can ditch cable and still catch their favorite games, while Disney benefits by attracting a wider audience and potentially increasing bundle subscriptions that combine Disney+ with ESPN and Hulu.
It’s important to note that this is still a year away. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the 2025 launch!