SportsCenter at ESPN Headquarters.
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ESPN is coming to Disney+. Now, the sports network wants to make sure Disney+ users can watch ESPN.
walt disney Disney+ launched a dedicated ESPN section on Wednesday for users who subscribe to its sports streaming platform ESPN+. Watch shows without leaving the Disney+ app. Next fall, when ESPN launches its As-yet-unnamed “flagship” servicethese subscribers will have full access to all ESPN content through the ESPN section on Disney+.
Disney is making about 100 live games available to Disney+ members who don’t have a corresponding ESPN subscription. ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said in an interview that the events will span college football and basketball, the National Basketball Association and WNBA, the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, tennis, golf, the Little League World Series and the UFC .
Substitute for next week TV series “The Simpsons” Disney+ subscribers will also be able to watch the NFL’s “Monday Night Football” game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys as well as five NBA Christmas games.
“Now, when you subscribe to Disney+, you’ll have access to kids and family, general entertainment (if you’re a Hulu subscriber) and sports programming,” Pitaro said. “Our goal is to serve sports fans wherever and whenever they want.”
ESPN will also make some studio programming available on Disney+ for non-ESPN subscribers, such as “College Gameday,” “Pardon the Interruption,” and certain podcasts with movies. Pitaro said some ESPN sports-related movies and documentaries will also appear on Disney+ in conjunction with any active sports season.
ESPN shows will also be integrated into Disney+ search, similar to Hulu integration earlier this year. If a Disney+ subscriber who is not an ESPN customer clicks on content that requires an ESPN subscription, the user will be prompted to sign up within the app.
What’s new on Disney+
Pitaro said ESPN has also produced two studio segments specifically for Disney+. The first is a daily “SportsCenter” available exclusively to Disney+ subscribers, which will stream live on Disney+ at set times and then remain on the platform for on-demand viewing.
The second is a women’s sports show that may air once a week or several times a week. Both projects are in development and will be targeted at more casual sports fans, Pitaro said.
“Our research shows that there is little overlap between people watching Disney+ and ESPN linear programming,” Pitaro said.
Disney+ has a strong female audience, and Pitaro hopes they’ll watch the weekly women’s shows, which he mentioned first Interviewed by CNBC Sports Channel October.
ESPN+ streams approximately 30,000 games per year at a cost of $11.99 per game Month when purchased separately with Disney+. The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ bundle (with ads) costs $16.99 per month.
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