ESPN+
| Headquarters | Bristol, Connecticut , U.S. |
|---|---|
| Area served | United States |
| Owner | ESPN Inc. |
| Parent | Disney Streaming |
| URL | plus |
| Users | 24.1 million (as of August 6, 2025)[1] |
| Launched | April 12, 2018 |
| Current status | Defunct as streaming service since August 21, 2025 Active as programming brand |
ESPN+ is a brand of streaming-only sports programming primarily distributed through the ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, both owned by ESPN Inc., which is a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company (which owns a controlling 80% stake) and Hearst Communications (which owns the remaining 20%).
From April 2018 to August 2025, ESPN+ was an over-the-top subscription video streaming service available in the United States, operating using technology of Disney subsidiary BAMTech, now known as Disney Streaming.[2] As a streaming service, ESPN+ was 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+ did not include access to these services, as they continued to only be available through television providers. Thus, some of ESPN's sports rights were not carried on ESPN+.[3][4]
Remaining ESPN+-branded content includes combat sports (including coverage of the Ultimate Fighting Championship), college sports, hockey (including up to 50 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, was sold through the platform as an add-on. The service also featured archive content, ESPN original documentaries and access to premium content on ESPN.com.
ESPN+ was absorbed into the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service when it launched on August 21.[5] However, ESPN+ will remain active as a programming brand for an unspecified period of time due to contractual obligations with some of its content providers.[6][7] ESPN+ will also continue to be distributed to commercial establishments as a standalone package.[8]
- ^ "Disney Gains Surprise 1.4 Million Disney+ Subscribers". Variety. May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
verge-pricewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
verge-espnplusaprilwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Coryell, Olivia (August 6, 2025). "ESPN's Direct-to-Consumer Service and Enhanced App Launching August 21". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
variety May 2025was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
sbj May 2025was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
everpasswas invoked but never defined (see the help page).