Disney moving ahead with standalone ESPN streamer

Even as ESPN enters into a pact to form a broad sports streamer with other media giants, its parent Disney is also moving ahead with plans to launch a standalone streaming version for the network.

To clarify, ESPN already offers its ESPN+ streaming service, but it is designed to complement ESPN’s linear channels with additional content and programming as opposed to offering a full streaming version of the network. It also offers on-demand options. 

Meanwhile, ABC-ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to offer a combined sports streamer offering content culled from each company’s various properties in February 2024. That yet-to-be-named offering is expected in the fall of 2024.

ESPN+ is expected to become part of that and Disney’s deal with the other media giants still allows the network to launch a separate streamer. 

Disney, however, is also moving ahead with plans to offer a separate streaming service, according to CEO Bob Iger. 

The news came during a CNBC interview Feb. 7, 2024. Iger offered additional insight into what the service might look like, including dubbing it a “flagship” product.

“This bundle is really a channel bundle that I think will be very user-friendly because it’s more app based, but the ESPN flagship … will have features like integrated betting fantasy, much more personalization and customization, probably some shopping in some form,” he said.

It’s not clear what this service would be called and Disney appears to be targeting a 2025 launch, perhaps ahead of the fall sports season, according to Iger.

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Pricing and other details have not been announced either.

Even with launching the joint streamer with Fox and WBD, Disney can still benefit from having its service that is essentially a streaming version of linear ESPN. Not only is this a way to get its content in front of cord-cutters, it’s also a way to do it more directly and without having to share revenue.

Most cable networks have shied away from offering live streams of their linear channels to non-subscribers due to agreements with pay TV providers to keep those feeds exclusive to their platforms.

However, as cord-cutting becomes more widespread, many networks are seeing the fees they charge pay TV providers dry up, hence the move into offering broader streaming options.

Further details on how ESPN might attempt to differentiate its standalone streamer from its linear feed were not announced. It’s also not entirely clear if the new offering could potentially conflict with any contracts ESPN has with pay TV providers.