Sports Business
ESPN has hit a new height of sheer omnipresence. It reaches far across streaming, from its Disney+ partnership to its over-the-top service with ESPN+. The network has also increased its hold in NFL, NBA, SEC and ACC live broadcasting. Up next is a consolidation of sorts, with ESPN’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) service launching Thursday, Aug. 21, along with an update to its app. Here’s what sports watchers need to know about the new subscription offering.
It’s basically a way to get all of ESPN’s disparate networks in one subscription. At launch, there are 12 networks under the tent:
This is primarily for folks who don’t have cable, satellite or a multi-channel streaming service like Fubo (a commercial partner of The Athletic) or YouTube TV. ESPN is also trying to appeal to more dedicated (or intense) nightly watchers: It has multiview options, integrated game stats, betting info, fantasy updates and the ability to shop for related gear.
The DTC service is branded as “ESPN Unlimited,” and it goes for $29.99 per month or $299.99 annually.
