Disney teases ESPN streaming service with new details, ‘early fall’ launch

Disney has long been planning to launch a new flagship ESPN streaming service—separate from the existing ESPN+ streamer—and its fall launch is fast approaching. Today during Disney’s quarterly earnings report, CEO Bob Iger teased what to expect from the new ESPN service and confirmed its launch timing.

New ESPN streamer will live inside existing app, include all current cable and streaming content

The Walt Disney Company today released its quarterly earnings across all segments of the business. As part of its reporting, the company’s execs highlighted the new standalone ESPN streaming service coming later this year.

Here are the details:

“ESPN’s flagship offering that will launch in early fall has been and remains our priority,” Iger and Johnston said. “And we expect the elevated product and content experience — which will all be housed within the ESPN app — will be a digital destination for sports fans unlike anything available in the marketplace today, with the full suite of ESPN’s networks and ESPN+, and highly interactive and personalized features.”

There are a variety of key tidbits to glean here, including:

• Launch Timing: Confirmation of an “early fall” launch—likely late August or early September, ahead of the NFL’s return
• App: The new streamer will live inside the existing ESPN app, not a brand new app
• Content: Subscribers will gain access to the “full suite” of ESPN networks and ESPN+, making it a true all-in-one offering
• Features: Phrasing is especially vague, but the service will offer “highly interactive and personalized features”

What hasn’t been outlined yet is pricing, but that probably won’t be revealed until closer to the fall debut.

Recently, Disney added a dedicated ESPN tile to its Disney+ app. Right now, this tile features some free content for Disney+ subscribers, as well as ESPN+ content if you have that service too.

It’s likely that after the new ESPN streaming service launches, you’ll be able to access its full contents from that Disney+ tile too. Or, of course, in the dedicated ESPN app.

ESPN+ has long been an oddity in that its name is misleading—rather than giving you ESPN plus extra content, it’s an entirely separate service that does not include standard ESPN. When Disney is able to finally launch this new ESPN service, though, cord cutters will be able to get the full ESPN experience via streaming.

Are you interested in the new ESPN streaming service? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.

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