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ESPN (streaming service)
The ESPN direct-to-consumer service, officially known as simply ESPN and also referred to as ESPN DTC or ESPN Unlimited, and "the all new ESPN app", is an American over-the-top sports video streaming service launched by ESPN Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company in partnership with Hearst Communications, on August 21, 2025.
Initially known by the project code name "Flagship" (or as ESPN Flagship), the service makes ESPN's full range of content—including its core linear cable television channels and associated digital content—available on a fully standalone, direct-to-consumer (DTC) basis for the first time. Much of the content was previously only available as part of traditional subscription TV bundles offered by cable, satellite, and virtual MVPD providers. The service subsumes the programming of ESPN's supplemental streaming service ESPN+ as an entry-level "Select" tier, and also include enhanced features on ESPN digital properties.
ESPN intends the new service to also be available via TV Everywhere authentication for existing subscribers, pending carriage negotiations.
Disney launched the ESPN+ streaming service in April 2018; due to the company's agreements with cable companies and other service providers, the service could not include access to ESPN's cable channels, and instead primarily offered sports content not available on those channels.
In May 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that ESPN was working on a project, internally code named "Flagship", to offer its namesake cable channel directly to consumers outside of the cable bundle. As part of this project, ESPN was reported to be in negotiations with cable providers and sports leagues to give it the flexibility to launch such a service. On February 7, 2024, Disney chief executive Bob Iger announced during an earnings call that the service would launch in late August or fall 2025.
Prior to the announcement of the service's name as simply "ESPN", Disney and ESPN press releases referred to the project as the "ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service". Most external trade media had referred to the service as "ESPN Flagship" or simply "Flagship". In March 2025, a Disney executive was reported to have referred to the service as "ESPN All Access" at an industry conference, though no official announcement was made at that time. In May 2025, CNBC reported via internal sources that the service may be branded as simply "ESPN" with no disambiguation, to signify the service as being the network's core offering for both over the top and subscription television customers, and to reduce market confusion by not using commonly-used suffixes such as "Plus". This plan was confirmed by Disney a few days later; at launch, the service was promoted with the slogan "All of ESPN. All in One Place", and as part of "the all new ESPN app".
On August 6, 2025, ESPN announced that the service would launch on August 21; the launch would coincide with a stretch of ESPN-televised events, most notably the start of college football season, and the US Open.
The service is available in two tiers, "Select" and "Unlimited". The lower-priced Select plan replaces the existing ESPN+ service, which primarily carries events or coverage not available on ESPN's linear channels. Existing ESPN+ subscribers would be converted to this plan automatically, though the ESPN+ brand will remain active for an unspecified period of time due to contractual obligations.
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ESPN (streaming service)
The ESPN direct-to-consumer service, officially known as simply ESPN and also referred to as ESPN DTC or ESPN Unlimited, and "the all new ESPN app", is an American over-the-top sports video streaming service launched by ESPN Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company in partnership with Hearst Communications, on August 21, 2025.
Initially known by the project code name "Flagship" (or as ESPN Flagship), the service makes ESPN's full range of content—including its core linear cable television channels and associated digital content—available on a fully standalone, direct-to-consumer (DTC) basis for the first time. Much of the content was previously only available as part of traditional subscription TV bundles offered by cable, satellite, and virtual MVPD providers. The service subsumes the programming of ESPN's supplemental streaming service ESPN+ as an entry-level "Select" tier, and also include enhanced features on ESPN digital properties.
ESPN intends the new service to also be available via TV Everywhere authentication for existing subscribers, pending carriage negotiations.
Disney launched the ESPN+ streaming service in April 2018; due to the company's agreements with cable companies and other service providers, the service could not include access to ESPN's cable channels, and instead primarily offered sports content not available on those channels.
In May 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that ESPN was working on a project, internally code named "Flagship", to offer its namesake cable channel directly to consumers outside of the cable bundle. As part of this project, ESPN was reported to be in negotiations with cable providers and sports leagues to give it the flexibility to launch such a service. On February 7, 2024, Disney chief executive Bob Iger announced during an earnings call that the service would launch in late August or fall 2025.
Prior to the announcement of the service's name as simply "ESPN", Disney and ESPN press releases referred to the project as the "ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer service". Most external trade media had referred to the service as "ESPN Flagship" or simply "Flagship". In March 2025, a Disney executive was reported to have referred to the service as "ESPN All Access" at an industry conference, though no official announcement was made at that time. In May 2025, CNBC reported via internal sources that the service may be branded as simply "ESPN" with no disambiguation, to signify the service as being the network's core offering for both over the top and subscription television customers, and to reduce market confusion by not using commonly-used suffixes such as "Plus". This plan was confirmed by Disney a few days later; at launch, the service was promoted with the slogan "All of ESPN. All in One Place", and as part of "the all new ESPN app".
On August 6, 2025, ESPN announced that the service would launch on August 21; the launch would coincide with a stretch of ESPN-televised events, most notably the start of college football season, and the US Open.
The service is available in two tiers, "Select" and "Unlimited". The lower-priced Select plan replaces the existing ESPN+ service, which primarily carries events or coverage not available on ESPN's linear channels. Existing ESPN+ subscribers would be converted to this plan automatically, though the ESPN+ brand will remain active for an unspecified period of time due to contractual obligations.