ESPN Streaming App Will Cost $29.99 or $35.99 Bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+

This fall, you’ll be able to watch the ESPN linear channel without a larger bundles of channels. The ESPN streaming app will be available with two tiers. The Unlimited plan will be $29.99/month. Users will also be able to bundle it with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $35.99.

When the service launches, users who choose the 3-service bundle can get lock in a promotional price for 12 months: $29.99.

The service will also offer a Select plan at $11.99/month or $119/year. That only offers ESPN+.

There will also be an annual option for ESPN streaming: $299.99.

At launch, the ESPN streamer will offer 47,000 live events a year, plus on-demand replays, studio shows, and original programming. It will feature enhanced betting, statistical analysis, and personalized SportsCenter on mobile and connected TV devices.

The launch date will be announced later this summer.

What Will You Get with the ESPN Streaming Option?

Choosing the Unlimited plan will give you access to all of ESPN’s linear channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network, ABC sports, and much more.

If you subscribe to a live TV provider that carries ESPN, you will get the streaming version for free.

If you choose to upgrade to the bundle with ESPN+, you’ll unlock the sports it carries exclusively:

• 25,000+ hours of women’s sports
• UFC Fight Nights
• Exclusive UFC Pay-Per-View events
• 50+ exclusive and 1,000 out-of-market NHL Power Play games per season
• College football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, wrestling, gymnastics, and more from 20 conferences across the country
• LaLiga
• Bundesliga
• EFL Championship
• FA Cup
• Copa Del Rey
• Carabao Cup
• 4,300+ live, exclusive hours of golf coverage across 35 tournaments on PGA TOUR LIVE
• Masters and PGA Championship coverage
• Top Rank Boxing
• Grand Slam tennis
• Major League Baseball
• International cricket

What Sports Are Missing from ESPN’s Streamer?

My biggest issue with the service is that you still need a lot of other channels to watch sports. Here’s what’s missing:

• NFL: Games on Paramount+/CBS, Peacock/NBC, FOX One/FOX, Netflix, NFL Network, and NFL RedZone
• NCAA Football: Games on FOX One/FOX/FS1, Peacock/NBC, Paramount+/CBS, CW, truTV
• NBA: Games on Peacock/NBC, Prime Video,
• MLB: All games (ESPN dropped its MLB contract after this season)
• WNBA: Games on Paramount+/CBS, ION, Prime Video, and NBA TV
• NCAA Basketball: Games on Paramount+/CBS, Peacock/NBC, FOX One/FOX, Max/TNT/TBS/truTV, FloSports
• Golf: Events on Golf Channel, Paramount+/CBS, Peacock/NBC
• NHL: Games on Max/TNT and NHL Network
• NASCAR: Races on FOX One/FOX/FS1 and Peacock/NBC
• MLS: All games
• Tennis: Tennis Channel, Max/TNT/TBS/truTV

Does ESPN’s Streaming Option Make Financial Sense?

At first glance, I would not recommend choosing the streaming option because it’s not a silver bullet for sports fans.

In recent years, the quality of ESPN has suffered as the channel seems more interested in talking heads than highlights, interviews, or on-field coverage. It still carries important games and most sports fans need it, but that price is too steep for what you get.

Instead, I’d recommend other choices for a better sports experience.

Sling TV – $45.99+

I’ve used Sling TV as my go-to service for the NFL season the past two years. If you choose the Sling Orange package, you’ll get ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. It also includes important sports channels like TBS and TNT. You can scale Sling up or down to include most other channels you may need.

DIRECTV – $69.99+

DIRECTV’s recently-launched MySports package is a better value than the standalone ESPN streamer because you get far more sports channels. If you sign up, you’ll get all the ESPN channels (and free access to the ESPN streamer), but you also get free ESPN+.

This channel package also includes ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, NHL Network, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, truTV, and more.

DIRECTV also offers more regional sports networks than any other provider (and the most TV channels of any live streaming service), so it’s a great choice.

Hulu + Live TV – $82.99

If you’re thinking of the ESPN streamer, I think you’ll get more bang for your buck with Hulu + Live TV. It has a huge channel lineup, including 74 of the 100 most-watched channels. You also get free Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu on-demand. It may be the only streaming subscription you need. As a subscriber, you’d also get access to the ESPN streaming app if you want it.

This story is developing. We will add more as it becomes available.