"ESPN Plus" redirects here. For the former syndication division that previously used the on-air brand "ESPN Plus", seeESPN Events. For the Latin American network formerly known as ESPN+, seeESPN 2 (Latin America). For the Brazilian channel formerly known as ESPN+, seeESPN (Brazil).
From April 2018 to August 2025, ESPN+ was anover-the-top subscription video streaming service available in the United States, operating using technology of Disney subsidiary BAMTech, now known asDisney Streaming.[2] As a streaming service, ESPN+ was marketed as an add-on to ESPN's core linear networks, with some of ESPN+'s content previously offeredexclusively to cable subscribers viaESPN3 and theESPN app. ESPN+ did not include access to these services, as they continued to only be available through television providers. Thus, some of ESPN's sports rights were not carried on ESPN+.[3][4]
ESPN+ was rebranded to ESPN Select and included in the newESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service when it launched on August 21.[5] However, ESPN+ will remain active as a programming brand for an unspecified period of time due to contractual obligations with some of its content providers.[6][7] ESPN+ will also continue to be distributed to commercial establishments as a standalone package.[8]
In August 2016,the Walt Disney Company acquired a minority stake inBAMTech, aspin-out ofMLB 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 subsidiaryESPN was planning to develop an over-the-top service based on BAMTech technology as "an exploratory OTT project", drawing primarily fromESPN-owned rights for events not broadcast on television. ESPN already used BAMTech's platform for itsTV Everywhere serviceWatchESPN. Disney CEOBob Iger remarked that despite declines in thepay television industry due tocord-cutting, "live sports has really thrived, even in a world where there's so much more for people to do and to watch."[9][10]
In August 2017, Disney invoked its option to acquire a controlling 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 withNetflix). At this time, Disney stated that the new ESPN service would draw from ESPN-owned sports rights, as well asMLB,NHL andMLS content (although lacking major ESPN-owned rights such as theNBA andNFL), and that an accompanying redesign of the ESPN app would make it a "premier digital destination" for sports content.[11] During Disney's fourth-quarter earnings call, Iger revealed that the service would be known as ESPN+.[12] In December 2017, Disney announced its intent toacquire21st Century Fox after the spin-off of certain businesses. The deal was to include theFox Sports Networks group ofregional sports networks (which Disney was ordered to divest under antitrust grounds),[13] which led to suggestions that Disney wanted to incorporate FSN's regional sports rights into the service.[14]
In February 2018, Iger stated that ESPN was aiming for a monthly price of $4.99.[3][15] ESPN+ and BAMTech were placed into the newly formed Disney business segment,Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International, on March 14, 2018.[16] On April 2, 2018, ESPN announced that ESPN+ would officially launch on April 12, 2018, and confirmed its $4.99 per-month pricing.[4]
On August 21, 2018,ESPN.com's existing subscription service ESPN Insider was discontinued and folded into ESPN+, adding its premium web content (such as exclusivebeat reports, and advanced sports statistics, analytics andfantasy sports tools) to the service. Both services shared the same monthly price, but ESPN Insider subscribers continued to receive the complimentary subscription toESPN The Magazine that was included (until its discontinuation in September 2019),[17] and annual subscribers weregrandfathered under its previous $39.99-per-year price (as opposed to $49.99 for ESPN+).[18]
On October 31, 2018, ESPN executive Russell Wolff was named executive vice president and general manager.[19] In October 2019, ESPN+ began to add pre-roll advertising to on-demand content on the service.[20] Concurrent with the launch ofDisney+ on November 12, 2019, the Disney Bundle was introduced, allowing users to subscribe to ESPN+, Disney+ and the ad-supported tier ofHulu for $12.99 per month.[2]
On October 22, 2020, it was announced that a larger amount of ESPN.com articles (primarily analysis) would becomepaywalled behind ESPN+. It was also announced that video simulcasts of theESPN Radio programsThe Dan Le Batard Show,Greeny,The Max Kellerman Show andChiney & Golic Jr., as well asJorge Ramos y Su Banda, would be moved exclusively to ESPN+ from the ESPN networks.[21]
In March 2021, ESPN+ programming became available via the Hulu website and apps for those who are subscribed to both services, via a branded "ESPN+ on Hulu" hub.[22]
In July 2022, Disney announced that the standalone monthly price of ESPN+, which reached $6.99 per month in 2021 following two smaller increases, would jump by three dollars, or 43%, to $9.99 per month beginning in late August. Observers speculated that the increase was intended to promote uptake of the Disney Bundle, which continued at the then current $13.99 price point, while remaining competitive relative to other standalone sports streaming services.[23][24]
Following acarriage agreement withSpectrum in September 2023, ESPN+ became available to Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers at no additional charge; the agreement was also stated to include distribution rights to afuture ESPN "flagship" streaming service, expected to launch in 2025, which would be a superset of both ESPN+ and the programming exclusive to ESPN's linear networks.[25][26][27][28]
In December 2024, ESPN+ programming became available via the Disney+ website and apps for those who are subscribed to the services, via a branded ESPN hub; the hub also includes ESPN programming simulcast on Hulu.[29]
In May 2025, Disney announced that the ESPN+ service would be effectively subsumed by the newESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, with existing subscribers automatically becoming subscribers to the "Select" tier of the new ESPN DTC service. However, ESPN+ will remain separately active for an unspecified period of time due to contractual obligations with certain content providers, including Bundesliga, La Liga, and the UFC.[6][7]
ESPN+ featuresout-of-marketMajor League Soccer matches at no additional charge for subscribers (replacing the previous MLS Live service),[40][41] and the service held exclusive rights to all regionally televisedChicago Fire matches through 2020 (as the second MLS team, behindLos Angeles FC's deal withYouTube TV, to sell its regional rights to a streaming service).[42][43] As of the2021–22 season, ESPN+ carries out-of-marketNational Hockey League games under theNHL Power Play on ESPN+ banner (replacing the previous NHL.tv service).[44][45][46]MLB.tv is also available for purchase within the ESPN+ platform, and offers daily games during their regular seasons.[4]
PGA Tour Live (which was also run by BAMTech) was included for the2018 PGA Tour season, but moved toNBC Sports Gold in 2019.[47] ESPN+ will offer supplemental feeds during thePGA Championship beginning 2020, including duringCBS broadcast windows.[48] In 2022, PGA Tour Live returned to ESPN+ as part of a new long-term deal through 2030.[49]
In March 2019, theAmerican Athletic Conference announced a 12-year media rights deal with ESPN, under which ESPN+ will carry the majority of events not aired by ESPN's linear channels.[50][51][52] In May 2019, it was announced that ESPN+ would carry 18World TeamTennis matches.[53] In September 2019, ESPN+ announced its acquisition of rights to Germany'sBundesliga soccer league beginning in 2020, under a six-year deal.[54]
In the 2019–20 season, ESPN+ acquired the third-tier media rights for all but twoBig 12 Conference teams; these telecasts are carried under the brandingBig 12 Now. The deal excluded the Oklahoma Sooners—whose third-tier rights were held by the SoonerSports.tv streaming service andBally Sports Oklahoma, and the Texas Longhorns—who have an existing agreement with ESPN andIMG College to runLonghorn Network.[55][56]
On March 10, 2021,ESPN re-acquired rights to theNational Hockey League under a new seven-year deal beginning in the2021–22 season. Under this contract, ESPN+ holds exclusive rights to at least 50 games per-season, which are also available onHulu, simulcast rights to select ESPN games and all games onABC (including theNHL All-Star Game and theStanley Cup Finals in selected seasons). ESPN+ also streams all out-of-market games under the "NHL Power Play" branding.[44][45]
A week later, as part of ESPN's renewal of its rights to the NFL, ESPN+ gained simulcast rights toMonday Night Football broadcasts beginning in the2021 NFL season. Beginning in 2022, ESPN+ holds exclusive rights to oneNFL International Series game per-season in a Sunday morning window.[59][60]
In September 2021, Disney began to wind down the U.S. version ofHotstar, a streaming service targetingIndian Americans, and migrated its content exclusively to ESPN+ and Hulu. This, in particular, included its rights to home matches of theIndia national cricket team andIndian Premier League, which had been sub-licensed to ESPN+ via its sister networkStar Sports.[61]
On April 8, 2022, ESPN announced a deal with theSavannah Bananas to livestream two games of their Banana Ball World Tour on April 8 and 9.[62]
In May 2022, ESPN announced its acquisition of the third-tier media rights toOklahoma Sooners athletics; the events will be carried on ESPN+ under the "SoonerVision on ESPN+" branding, and will include one exclusive football game per-season (which had previously been distributed byBally/Fox Sports pay-per-view). The deal will be in effect through the 2024–25 athletics season, after which the Sooners will exit the Big 12 and move to theSoutheastern Conference (SEC)—whose media rights are fully owned by ESPN.[63][64] Later that month, ESPN announced a rights agreement with theNorthwoods League to stream select games of their 2022 season each day exclusively on ESPN+, along with the Northwoods League All-Star Game, the Major League Dreams Showcase, the League playoffs and Summer Collegiate World Series.[65][66]
In May 2018, theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced new five-year digital and linear television rights deals with ESPN, effective January 2019. 20UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night cards per year are streamed exclusively by the service, as well as preliminaries for 10UFC on ESPN Fight Night cards per year. ESPN+ will also hold rights to supplemental content such asDana White's Contender Series, archive content and PPV encores, and offer sales ofUFC Fight Pass within the platform.[67][68][69] The first ESPN+ event,UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, generated 525,000 new subscribers on the day of the event alone.[70]
On March 18, 2019, it was announced that ESPN had reached a two-year extension of its contract with the UFC. Beginning withUFC 236, ESPN+ became the exclusive U.S. distributor of all UFC pay-per-view events for residential customers; they are no longer sold through television providers, and viewers must have an ESPN+ subscription in order to buy them.[71]
ESPN+ also carries ESPN original programming and documentaries, such as the30 for 30 franchise (with some premiering on ESPN+ prior to their premiere on ESPN), and exclusive original series and studio programs:[3][4]
Detail – A franchise of programs featuring analysis of sports by associated players. The initial, basketball version of the series was hosted and produced byKobe Bryant[76] until his death in January 2020. In October 2018, ESPN announced thatPeyton Manning would host an NFL version of the program.[77] On June 29, 2019, ESPN announced amixed martial arts version of the program hosted byDaniel Cormier.[78]Golden State Warriors head coach and formerChicago Bulls playerSteve Kerr, along with former Bulls coachPhil Jackson, hosted special episodes focused on theMichael Jordan-led Bulls dynasty in the 1990s, as a tie-in for the ESPN documentary miniseriesThe Last Dance.[79]
ESPN FC – A studio program focusing on soccer; it moved from airing on the networks to exclusively being on ESPN+.[36]
Ariel and the Bad Guy – A weekly mixed martial arts discussion show hosted byAriel Helwani andChael Sonnen
The Fantasy Show – A fantasy football analysis show hosted byMatthew Berry. Originally aired on ESPN2 in its first season.
Always Late with Katie Nolan – Alate-night talk show-inspired series hosted byKatie Nolan, serving as a successor to her previousFox Sports 1 programGarbage Time.[85] The start of its second season in late September 2019 saw it carried onESPN2 on Thursday evenings as well.[86] The series was cancelled in 2020.[87]
NFL PrimeTime – Hosted byChris Berman andTom Jackson, a digital-only version of the popular NFL highlight show that aired on ESPN for nearly 30 years. The program airs live at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday nights during the regular season, recapping the afternoon's games. The show is updated with segments recapping theSunday andMonday-night games after their completion, which are respectively hosted byScott Van Pelt,Steve Levy and, previously,Joe Tessitore.[89][90]
Fútbol Americas – A breakdown and analysis ofsoccer from a North American perspective, with highlights from North American leagues (mostlyMLS,Liga MX andNWSL), as well as national teams,CONCACAF competitions and North American players playing abroad in Europe. Hosted by Sebastian Salazar andHerculez Gomez, with new episodes every Monday and Thursday.[92]
The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick - Hosted byPeyton Manning andBill Belichick, a breakdown and analysis of upcomingMonday Night Football games during the NFL season. New episodes premiere during weeks when the MNF game features theManningcast.
In January 2021,Joe Hand Promotions began offering a commercial subscription ofESPN+ for Business, a version of ESPN+ that offers limited live sports content viaDirecTV to commercial establishments.[93][94] In 2023, the commercial service was expanded to include college sports.[95][96]
In September 2025, ESPN announced it was making ESPN+ available as a standalone streaming package for commercial establishments viaEverPass Media.[8]
24.1 million (as of August 6, 2025[update])[1]
