ESPN+
Headquarters | , |
---|---|
Area served | United States |
Owner | ESPN Inc. |
Parent | Disney Streaming |
URL | plus |
Users | 24.9 million (as of August 30, 2024[update])[1] |
Launched | April 12, 2018 |
Current status | Active |
ESPN+ is an American over-the-top subscription video streaming service available in the United States, owned by the ESPN division of The Walt Disney Company, in partnership with ESPN Inc., which is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (which owns a controlling 80% stake) and the Hearst Communications (which owns the remaining 20%). It is one of Disney's three flagship subscription streaming brands in the United States, alongside Disney+ and Hulu, and operates using technology of Disney subsidiary BAMTech, now known as Disney Streaming.[2]
ESPN+ is marketed as an add-on to ESPN's core linear networks, with some of ESPN+'s content previously offered exclusively to cable subscribers via ESPN3 and the ESPN app. ESPN+ does not include access to these services, as they continue to only be available through television providers. Thus, some of ESPN's sports rights are not carried on ESPN+.[3][4]
Featured content on ESPN+ includes combat sports (including coverage of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Top Rank boxing), college sports, hockey (including 75 exclusive National Hockey League games per-season and all out-of-market games), soccer, golf (including PGA Tour Live and coverage of the PGA Championship), tennis and cricket. Major League Baseball's out-of-market sports package, also operated through BAMTech, is sold through the platform as an add-on. The service also features archive content, ESPN original documentaries and access to premium content on ESPN.com.
History
[edit]In August 2016, The Walt Disney Company acquired a minority stake in BAMTech, a spin-out of MLB 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 subsidiary ESPN was planning to develop an over-the-top service based on BAMTech technology as "an exploratory OTT project", drawing primarily from ESPN-owned rights for events not broadcast on television. ESPN already used BAMTech's platform for its TV Everywhere service WatchESPN. Disney CEO Bob Iger remarked that despite declines in the pay television industry due to cord-cutting, "live sports has really thrived, even in a world where there's so much more for people to do and to watch."[5][6]
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 with Netflix). At this time, Disney stated that the new ESPN service would draw from ESPN-owned sports rights, as well as MLB, NHL and MLS content (although lacking major ESPN-owned rights such as the NBA and NFL), and that an accompanying redesign of the ESPN app would make it a "premier digital destination" for sports content.[7] During Disney's fourth-quarter earnings call, Iger revealed that the service would be known as ESPN+.[8] In December 2017, Disney announced its intent to acquire 21st Century Fox after the spin-off of certain businesses. The deal was to include the Fox Sports Networks group of regional sports networks (which Disney was ordered to divest under antitrust grounds),[9] which led to suggestions that Disney wanted to incorporate FSN's regional sports rights into the service.[10]
In February 2018, Iger stated that ESPN was aiming for a monthly price of $4.99.[3][11] ESPN+ and BAMTech were placed into the newly formed Disney business segment, Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International, on March 14, 2018.[12] 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 exclusive beat reports, and advanced sports statistics, analytics and fantasy sports tools) to the service. Both services shared the same monthly price, but ESPN Insider subscribers continued to receive the complimentary subscription to ESPN The Magazine that was included (until its discontinuation in September 2019),[13] and annual subscribers were grandfathered under its previous $39.99-per-year price (as opposed to $49.99 for ESPN+).[14]
On October 31, 2018, ESPN executive Russell Wolff was named executive vice president and general manager.[15] In October 2019, ESPN+ began to add pre-roll advertising to on-demand content on the service.[16] Concurrent with the launch of Disney+ on November 12, 2019, the Disney Bundle was introduced, allowing users to subscribe to ESPN+, Disney+ and the ad-supported tier of Hulu for $12.99 per month.[2]
On October 22, 2020, it was announced that a larger amount of ESPN.com articles (primarily analysis) would become paywalled behind ESPN+. It was also announced that video simulcasts of the ESPN Radio programs The Dan Le Batard Show, Greeny, The Max Kellerman Show and Chiney & Golic Jr., as well as Jorge Ramos y Su Banda, would be moved exclusively to ESPN+ from the ESPN networks.[17]
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.[18]
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.[19][20]
Following a carriage agreement with Spectrum in September 2023, ESPN+ became available to Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers for no extra cost.[21]
On November 14, 2024, Disney announced the ESPN hub will be launched in the US on Disney+ on December 4, 2024, It will be similar to Hulu hub on Disney+.[22]
Programming
[edit]ESPN+ initially focused on overflow content, similar to that of ESPN3 (which is distributed to subscribers of participating internet and television subscribers). Some of ESPN3's content has since moved to ESPN+.[23] It has since been incorporated more extensively into ESPN's later media rights deals. Its launch content included boxing (including Top Rank events and archive content through 2025, and includes 36 exclusive fight cards),[24] college sports events (including Ivy League events, with the conference having reached a 10-year media rights deal with ESPN prior to the service's launch),[25] coverage of Tennis Grand Slams, as well as international cricket (India national cricket team, Cricket Ireland and New Zealand Cricket), soccer (including Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League, the U.S. Open Cup,[26] 2019 Copa America,[27] the English Football League (including Cup), Serie A,[28] Eredivisie, A-League, FFA Cup, W-League, FA Cup and UEFA Nations League)[29] and College Rugby.[30] In October 2018, ESPN+ obtained the rights for the Swedish Allsvenskan and the Danish Superliga as well, declaring their intent to broadcast one match per week for each league.[31] In February 2021, ESPN+ obtained the rights for the Belgian Pro League, and are expected to broadcast 3 matches per week.[32]
ESPN+ features out-of-market Major League Soccer matches at no additional charge for subscribers (replacing the previous MLS Live service),[33][34] and the service held exclusive rights to all regionally televised Chicago Fire matches through 2020 (as the second MLS team, behind Los Angeles FC's deal with YouTube TV, to sell its regional rights to a streaming service).[35][36] As of the 2021–22 season, ESPN+ carries out-of-market National Hockey League games under the NHL Power Play on ESPN+ banner (replacing the previous NHL.tv service).[37][38][39] 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 the 2018 PGA Tour season, but moved to NBC Sports Gold in 2019.[40] ESPN+ will offer supplemental feeds during the PGA Championship beginning 2020, including during CBS broadcast windows.[41] In 2022, PGA Tour Live returned to ESPN+ as part of a new long-term deal through 2030.[42]
In March 2019, the American 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.[43][44][45] In May 2019, it was announced that ESPN+ would carry 18 World TeamTennis matches.[46] In September 2019, ESPN+ announced its acquisition of rights to Germany's Bundesliga soccer league beginning in 2020, under a six-year deal.[47]
In the 2019–20 season, ESPN+ acquired the third-tier media rights for all but two Big 12 Conference teams; these telecasts are carried under the branding Big 12 Now. The deal excluded the Oklahoma Sooners—whose third-tier rights were held by the SoonerSports.tv streaming service and Bally Sports Oklahoma, and the Texas Longhorns—who have an existing agreement with ESPN and IMG College to run Longhorn Network.[48][49]
During the 2020 Major League Baseball season's Wild Card Series round, ESPN+ aired Squeeze Play—which featured live look-ins and analysis of the seven series ESPN held rights to (in a similar manner to the ESPN Bases Loaded service it offered during the NCAA baseball tournament), as well as Statcast broadcasts of selected games.[50][51]
On March 10, 2021, ESPN re-acquired rights to the National Hockey League under a new seven-year deal beginning in the 2021–22 season. Under this contract, ESPN+ holds exclusive rights to 75 games per-season, which will also be available on Hulu, simulcast rights to all games on ABC (including the NHL All-Star Game and the Stanley Cup Finals in selected seasons), and streams all out-of-market games.[37][38]
A week later, as part of ESPN's renewal of its rights to the NFL, ESPN+ gained simulcast rights to Monday Night Football broadcasts beginning in the 2021 NFL season. Beginning in 2022, ESPN+ will hold exclusive rights to one NFL International Series game per-season in a Sunday morning window.[52][53]
In September 2021, Disney began to wind down the U.S. version of Hotstar, a streaming service targeting Indian Americans, and migrated its content exclusively to ESPN+ and Hulu. This, in particular, includes its rights to home matches of the India national cricket team and Indian Premier League, which had been sub-licensed to ESPN+ via its sister network Star Sports.[54]
On April 8, 2022, ESPN announced a deal with the Savannah Bananas to livestream two games of their Banana Ball World Tour on April 8 and 9.[55]
In May 2022, ESPN announced its acquisition of the third-tier media rights to Oklahoma 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 by Bally/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 the Southeastern Conference (SEC)—whose media rights are fully-owned by ESPN.[56][57] Later that month, ESPN announced a rights agreement with the Northwoods 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.[58][59]
UFC
[edit]In May 2018, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced new five-year digital and linear television rights deals with ESPN, effective January 2019. 20 UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night cards per year are streamed exclusively by the service, as well as preliminaries for 10 UFC on ESPN Fight Night cards per year. ESPN+ will also hold rights to supplemental content such as Dana White's Contender Series, archive content and PPV encores, and offer sales of UFC Fight Pass within the platform.[60][61][62] The first ESPN+ event, UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, generated 525,000 new subscribers on the day of the event alone.[63]
On March 18, 2019, it was announced that ESPN had reached a two-year extension of its contract with the UFC. Beginning with UFC 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.[64]
Rights
[edit]Cricket
[edit]- National teams
- India national cricket team (BCCI) (Hindi and English rights, sublicensed from Star Sports, a sister network owned by Disney's Indian subsidiary Disney Star)[54]
- West Indies national cricket team
- New Zealand national cricket team (home match rights until 2026)[65]
- T20 leagues
Association football (soccer)
[edit]United States
[edit]Europe
[edit]Spain
- La Liga
- Segunda División
- Copa del Rey
- Supercopa de España
- Copa De La Renia
- Supercopa de España Femenina
England
Germany
Netherlands
Sweden
Belgium
Other
[edit]- CONCACAF W Champions Cup (Spanish)
Auto racing
[edit]- Formula One (Eighteen races on ESPN+, including the Miami Grand Prix, U.S. Grand Prix and Las Vegas Grand Prix as of 2023)[66]
- Formula Two
- Formula Three
- Porsche Supercup
- F1 Academy
Baseball
[edit]- Major League Baseball
- One daily non-exclusive game during the regular season, blackout restrictions apply
- Little League World Series
- Caribbean Series (Spanish)
Football
[edit]- National Football League[52][53]
- Simulcasts of all Monday Night Football games aired on ABC and select ESPN games (including the Manningcast in select weeks)
- One exclusive regular season game per-season.
- United Football League
- Simulcast of all UFL games carried on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
Basketball
[edit]- National Basketball Association
- Simulcasts of select games aired on ESPN and/or ABC (including the NBA in Stephen A's World alternate broadcast)
- FIBA Basketball World Cup
- FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup
Combat sports
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- All UFC pay-per-view events (requires additional purchase)
- 20 exclusive ESPN+ Fight Night cards per year
- Preliminaries for 10 ESPN Fight Night cards per year
- Archive and supplemental content
- Top Rank boxing (through 2025)[24]
- 12 exclusive primetime cards per year
- 24 exclusive international cards per year
- Preliminaries for 18 Top Rank Boxing on ESPN cards per year
- Archive and supplemental content
- Professional Fighters League
Esports
[edit]Golf
[edit]- Masters Tournament
- Masters Live supplemental feeds
- Masters Tournament official films library on-demand
- PGA Championship
- Supplemental feeds.
- PGA Championship official films library on-demand
- PGA Tour
- PGA Tour Live supplemental coverage.
- LPGA Tour
Ice hockey
[edit]- National Hockey League[37][38]
- Up to 75 exclusive regular season games per-season. Games are also available on Hulu.
- Simulcasts of all games aired by ABC (including ABC Hockey Saturday and the Stanley Cup Finals), and select ESPN games (including Opening Night)
- All out-of-market games, and on-demand replays of all nationally-televised games (under the NHL Power Play on ESPN+ branding)
- Ice Hockey World Championships
- Premier Hockey Federation
- Hockey East
- ECAC Hockey
Lacrosse
[edit]Tennis
[edit]Yachting
[edit]- America's Cup
- Match Cup
- Louis Vuitton Cup
- Women's America's Cup
- Youth America's Cup
Others
[edit]College sports
[edit]American football
[edit]FBS
[edit]- American Athletic Conference
- Events not carried on ESPN linear networks
- Atlantic Coast Conference
- Events carried on ACCNX are also carried on ESPN+
- Big 12 Conference
- Third-tier media rights to most Big 12 teams (under the Big 12 Now)
- Conference USA
- Mid-American Conference
- Southeastern Conference
- Events carried on SECN+ are also carried on ESPN+
- Sun Belt Conference
FCS
[edit]- Big Sky Conference
- Big South–OVC Football Association
- Ivy League
- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
- Missouri Valley Football Conference
- Northeast Conference
- Patriot League
- Southern Conference
- Southland Conference
- Southwestern Athletic Conference
- United Athletic Conference
Basketball
[edit]- American Athletic Conference
- America East Conference
- Atlantic 10 Conference
- Atlantic Coast Conference
- ASUN Conference
- Big 12 Conference
- Big Sky Conference
- Big South Conference
- Big West Conference
- Conference USA
- Horizon League
- Ivy League
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
- Mid-American Conference
- Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
- Missouri Valley Conference
- Northeast Conference
- Ohio Valley Conference
- Patriot League
- Southeastern Conference
- Southern Conference
- Southland Conference
- Southwestern Athletic Conference
- Sun Belt Conference
- West Coast Conference
- Western Athletic Conference
- National Invitation Tournament
- Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament
- NCAA Division I baseball tournament
- NCAA Division I softball tournament
- NCAA women's gymnastics tournament
- NCAA men's gymnastics championships
- NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament
- NCAA men's volleyball tournament
- NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision
- NCAA Division I men's lacrosse tournament
- NCAA Division I women's lacrosse tournament
- NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament
- NCAA women's ice hockey tournament
- Other NCAA tournaments
Original programming
[edit]ESPN+ also carries ESPN original programming and documentaries, such as the 30 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 by Kobe Bryant[68] until his death in January 2020. In October 2018, ESPN announced that Peyton Manning would host an NFL version of the program.[69] On June 29, 2019, ESPN announced a mixed martial arts version of the program hosted by Daniel Cormier.[70] Golden State Warriors head coach and former Chicago Bulls player Steve Kerr, along with former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, hosted special episodes focused on the Michael Jordan-led Bulls dynasty in the 1990s, as a tie-in for the ESPN documentary miniseries The Last Dance.[71]
- ESPN FC – A studio program focusing on soccer; it moved from airing on the networks to exclusively being on ESPN+.[29]
- In The Crease – a daily NHL highlight and discussion show hosted by Linda Cohn[72]
- Quest for the Stanley Cup – A documentary series following the Stanley Cup playoffs (moved from Showtime)[72]
- Last Train to Russia – A documentary series previewing the 2018 FIFA World Cup[73][74][75]
- Year One – A documentary series following the 2017–18 NBA rookie class, featuring Jayson Tatum, Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell
- MLS Rewind – A weekly recap of Major League Soccer action, hosted by Taylor Twellman and featuring analysis from Alejandro Moreno
- I'll Take That Bet – A series focusing on sports betting, in conjunction with The Action Network[76]
- Ariel and the Bad Guy – A weekly mixed martial arts discussion show hosted by Ariel Helwani and Chael Sonnen
- The Fantasy Show – A fantasy football analysis show hosted by Matthew Berry. Originally aired on ESPN2 in its first season.
- Always Late with Katie Nolan – A late-night talk show-inspired series hosted by Katie Nolan, serving as a successor to her previous Fox Sports 1 program Garbage Time.[77] The start of its second season in late September 2019 saw it carried on ESPN2 on Thursday evenings as well.[78] The series was cancelled in 2020.[79]
- Peyton's Places – A documentary series hosted by former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.[80] The franchise expanded to include spin-offs hosted by Eli Manning (college football), Abby Wambach (soccer), Vince Carter (basketball), John McEnroe (tennis) and Ronda Rousey (combat sports).
- NFL PrimeTime – Hosted by Chris Berman and Tom 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 the Sunday and Monday-night games after their completion, which are respectively hosted by Scott Van Pelt, Steve Levy and, previously, Joe Tessitore.[81][82]
- Miles to Go – a documentary series following Les Miles, coach of the Kansas Jayhawks football team.[83]
- Fútbol Americas – A breakdown and analysis of soccer from a North American perspective, with highlights from North American leagues (mostly MLS, Liga MX and NWSL), as well as national teams, CONCACAF competitions and North American players playing abroad in Europe. Hosted by Sebastian Salazar and Herculez Gomez, with new episodes every Monday and Thursday.[84]
Other programming
[edit]- In the 2019 Formula One season, ESPN+ began to carry Sky Sports F1's studio shows Pit Lane Live and Welcome To the Weekend.
ESPN+ for Business
[edit]In January 2021, Joe Hand Promotions began offering a commercial subscription of ESPN+ for Business, a version of ESPN+ that offers limited live sports content via DirecTV to commercial establishments.[85][86] In 2023, the commercial service was expanded to include college sports.[87][88]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ https://www.statista.com/statistics/1054451/espn-plus-subscriber-us/#:~:text=The%20Walt%20Disney%20Company%20announced,quarter%20of%20the%20previous%20year.
- ^ a b Alexander, Julia (August 6, 2019). "Disney announces $12.99 bundle for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+". The Verge. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- ^ a b c Statt, Nick (February 7, 2018). "Disney sets price for new ESPN Plus streaming service at $4.99 per month". The Verge. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Welch, Chris (April 3, 2018). "ESPN+ will launch on April 12th for $4.99 per month". The Verge. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (August 18, 2016). "What's Behind Disney's $1 Billion Investment in Major League Baseball's Digital Arm". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
- ^ Miller, Daniel (August 9, 2016). "Walt Disney Co. buys stake in video streaming service BAMTech". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (August 8, 2017). "Disney to End Netflix Deal, Sets Launch of ESPN and Disney-Branded Streaming Services". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- ^ Katz, A.J. (November 9, 2017). "Disney Touts 2 New Streaming Services, Including ESPN Plus and One With a Live-Action Star Wars Series". Adweek. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (June 27, 2018). "Justice Department Approves Disney's Acquisition of 21st Century Fox With Divestiture of Regional Sports Networks". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ Frankel, Daniel (December 6, 2017). "Disney's pursuit of Fox RSNs could be big boost for ESPN". FierceCable. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- ^ Lang, Brent (February 6, 2018). "ESPN Streaming Service Coming This Spring for $4.99". Variety. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
- ^ Wang, Christine (March 14, 2018). "Disney announces strategic reorganization, effective immediately". CNBC. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ Ourand, John (April 30, 2019). "ESPN The Magazine To Cease Publishing In September". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (August 21, 2018). "ESPN Insider Subscribers Being Switched to ESPN+ Streaming Service". Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (October 31, 2018). "Disney Puts Longtime ESPN Exec Russell Wolff in Charge of ESPN+ Streaming Service". Variety. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ Alexander, Julia (October 25, 2019). "ESPN+ has started running pre-roll ads, frustrating paying subscribers". The Verge. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ Feldman, Jacob (October 22, 2020). "ESPN to Move Writers to ESPN+ While Adding Radio Show Telecasts". Sportico.com. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ Holt, Kris (March 11, 2021). "ESPN+ live sports and originals are now available on Hulu". Engadget. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ Steinberg, Brian (July 15, 2022). "ESPN+ Monthly Subscription to Rise $3 as Disney Strives for Streaming Profits". Variety. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ Lukovitz, Karlene (July 18, 2022). "Disney Hikes ESPN+ Solo Sub 43% To Help Boost Bundle Uptake". Digital News Daily. MediaPost. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ "The Walt Disney Company and Charter Communications Announce Transformative Agreement for Distribution of Disney's Linear Networks and Direct-To-Consumer Services". Walt Disney Company (Press release). September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "ESPN On Disney+ Launch Date Announced". Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "ESPN+ Programming Overview". dtcimedia.disney.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ a b Hayes, Dade (August 2, 2018). "ESPN Sets Landmark Boxing Deal With Top Rank Through 2025". Deadline. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "ESPN, Ivy League announce 10-year deal to air games on new ESPN+". ESPN.com. April 4, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Rigdon, Jay (April 5, 2019). "ESPN+ signs deal for exclusive U.S. Open Cup rights through 2022". Awful Announcing. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
- ^ Carp, Sam (May 29, 2019). "Copa America rights snaffled by ESPN+". SportsPro. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "ESPN enters into multi-year deal with Italy's Serie A". The Washington Post. Associated Press. August 7, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ a b Bupp, Phillip (April 6, 2018). "ESPN reveals entire soccer programming setup for ESPN+ that include MLS, UEFA matches and exclusive documentaries". Awful Announcing. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Theisen, Lauren (April 2, 2018). "ESPN's New $4.99-A-Month Service Is Taking Away Some Programming On ESPN3". Deadspin. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ Nwulu, Mac (October 2, 2018). "ESPN+ and ESPN Acquire Rights to Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana". espnmediazone.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Harris, Christopher (February 12, 2021). "ESPN+ adds Belgium Pro League to growing portfolio of soccer rights". World Soccer Talk. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Soshnick, Scott and Palmeri, Christopher (February 13, 2018). "ESPN's Web Service Gains Exclusive Pro Soccer Rights". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
- ^ "How to watch out-of-market MLS matches in 2018". MLSSoccer.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ^ "FAQs: Chicago Fire on ESPN+". Chicago Fire. March 10, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Pimiento, Juan. "Chicago Fire sign exclusive TV deal with ESPN+ streaming service". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c "NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal". ESPN. March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c Draper, Kevin (March 11, 2021). "N.H.L. Returns to ESPN in a 7-Year Deal With an Emphasis on Streaming". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Lucia, Joe (October 7, 2022). "ESPN is rebranding the NHL out of market package as 'NHL Power Play on ESPN+'". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (July 31, 2018). "NBC Sports, PGA Tour Ink Three-Year Deal for Live-Streaming Golf Subscription Package (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ Ourand, John and Lombardo, John (October 10, 2018). "PGA Championship Leaving TNT For ESPN In '20, Re-Ups With CBS". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Crupi, Anthony (March 9, 2020). "CBS, NBC re-up with the PGA Tour in a 9-year, $6.3 billion deal". adage.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (March 19, 2019). "ESPN signs 12-year, $1 billion deal with AAC, moves lots of games to ESPN+". Awful Announcing. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ Smith, Michael and Ourand, John (March 19, 2019). "AAC, ESPN Agree To 12-Year Media-Rights Deal Worth $1B". sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ Murschel, Matt (April 28, 2019). "AAC leader Mike Aresco touts new media rights deal, addresses ESPN+ criticism". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ World TeamTennis. "WTT 2019: HOW TO WATCH WORLD TEAMTENNIS". World TeamTennis. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
- ^ Lawler, Richard (October 2, 2019). "ESPN+ snags US rights to Bundesliga soccer starting in 2020". Engadget. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ Moyle, Nick (July 15, 2019). "Big 12 notes: Conference gets presence on ESPN+". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ Impey, Steven (April 11, 2019). "ESPN's expanded Big 12 rights deal adds OTT extension". SportsPro Media. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ Dachman, Jason (September 29, 2020). "MLB Postseason: ESPN Modifies REMI Model To Produce Up to 21 Wild Card Games in Four Days". Sports Video Group. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ Rosenthal, Phil (September 29, 2020). "Jason Benetti — with 6 screens and pizza — will do ESPN Plus Statcast streams for the postseason from his living room: 'I'm thinking I might do thin crust'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ a b "NFL announces TV deals with ESPN/ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, Amazon". ESPN.com. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Bucholtz, Andrew (March 18, 2021). "NFL completes network/Amazon rights deals through 2033, bringing in $10 billion per year along the way". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Hayes, Dade (August 31, 2021). "Disney Shifts Hotstar Programming To ESPN+ And Hulu; Stand-Alone Hotstar U.S. Service To Sunset In 2022". Deadline. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Wilson, Olivia (April 8, 2022). "Exclusively Streaming Live on ESPN+: Savannah Bananas Banana Ball World Tour on April 8 & 9" (Press release). ESPN Press Room.
- ^ "ESPN+ and OU Announce Multi-Year 'SoonerVision on ESPN+' Agreement". University of Oklahoma. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (May 5, 2022). "Oklahoma's PPV football game is going away". Awful Announcing. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Wilson, Olivia. "Northwoods League Announces Streaming Rights Agreement with ESPN+" (Press release). ESPN Press Room.
- ^ "Northwoods League hits ESPN+ this year". Ballpark Digest. May 26, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (May 8, 2018). "ESPN Enters The Octagon With UFC Streaming Deal". Deadline. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ Perez, A.J. (May 23, 2018). "Report: ESPN wrestles UFC television-rights deal away from Fox Sports". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
- ^ Alexander, Mookie (May 23, 2018). "Report: ESPN lands UFC television rights deal, reportedly worth $150 million per year". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Alexander, Mookie (January 21, 2019). "UFC's ESPN+ debut pulls in 525,000 new subscribers on Saturday night". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Ourand, John (March 18, 2019). "ESPN Extends With UFC; ESPN+ Becomes Exclusive PPV Provider". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ a b Ota, Kevin (November 30, 2020). "ESPN+, New Zealand Cricket Reach Six-Year Extension". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
- ^ Hall, Andy (February 28, 2023). "ESPN Kicks Off 2023 Formula 1 Season This Week with Expanded Coverage, New Content" (Press release). ESPN. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Ufnowski, Amy (March 23, 2022). "The Premier Lacrosse League and ESPN Announce Multi-Year Media Rights Agreement". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Putterman, Alex (April 5, 2018). "Kobe Bryant to produce and star in new basketball analysis show 'Detail,' to air on ESPN+". Awful Announcing. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Bupp, Phillip (October 17, 2018). "Peyton Manning to host NFL themed "Detail" show on ESPN+". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- ^ Raimondi, Marc (June 30, 2019). "Inside Daniel Cormier's mind for breaking down fight film". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ Manrique, Bruno (April 17, 2020). "Phil Jackson to Break Down Game 3 of 1998 NBA Finals on Kobe Bryant's 'Detail'". clutchpoints.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Putterman, Alex (April 13, 2018). "Quest for the Stanley Cup moves from Showtime to ESPN+". Awful Announcing. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon (April 7, 2018). "ESPN+ To Live Stream Hundreds of Soccer Matches". nexttv.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Welch, Chris (April 12, 2018). "Disney kicks off its streaming future today with ESPN+". The Verge. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
- ^ Long, Michael (December 14, 2017). "The Long Read: Will Disney's push over the top see ESPN reclaim the summit?". SportsPro. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ McCarthy, Michael (June 12, 2018). "TV networks will be panning for talent as part of the rush to claim gambling gold". Sporting News. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Lucia, Joe (May 2, 2018). "New ESPN digital shows include Katie Nolan late night show, daily SportsCenter series in ESPN app". Awful Announcing. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- ^ Marchand, Andrew (September 5, 2019). "ESPN's plan to reignite Katie Nolan's show". The New York Post. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- ^ Rigdon, Jay (July 6, 2021). "Katie Nolan confirms Always Late was canceled last year". Awful Announcing. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ "Peyton Manning to Host New ESPN+ Original Series "Peyton's Places"". The Futon Critic. April 15, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Lucia, Joe (September 13, 2019). "NFL Primetime is returning to ESPN, but behind the ESPN+ paywall". Awful Announcing. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ Yoder, Matt (September 17, 2019). "Does the new NFL Primetime on ESPN+ still hold up in today's streaming world?". Awful Announcing. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ Schwegman, Huntyr (August 29, 2019). "ESPN+ documentary 'Miles to Go' premieres, follows Kansas football into new era". The University Daily Kansan. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ Lopez, Isabelle (March 4, 2021). "Exclusively on ESPN+: Futbol Americas Premieres March 8" (Press release). ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "ESPN Plus for Business". plus.espn.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ Kohler, Katie (October 21, 2021). "Joe Hand Promotions Still Fighting After 50 Years Thanks To Added Punch From Streaming, Barstool, and Streaming". Feasterville, PA: Play Pennsylvania. Catena Media. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "Joe Hand Promotions Extends ESPN+ for Business Agreement". FSR Magazine. August 9, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ Bouma, Luke (August 9, 2023). "ESPN Agrees to Let Bars & Restaurants Air More ESPN+ Content Through DIRECTV". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved January 13, 2024.