ESPN will launch a $5 streaming service called ESPN Plus, and it’s set to launch sometime this Spring for sports fans to sink their teeth into. The new service, which will officially cost $4.99 a month comes from Disney and will be its first streaming offering for consumers that will come straight from Disney and not as an add-on through another streaming package.
ESPN Plus will not be a standalone app but rather a new featured segment of the official ESPN app that is already available. The official ESPN app will get a redesign and as part of that update the ESPN Plus service is going to be rolled out alongside other new features and improvements to go along with the new app UI design. With this new streaming service in place, users will be able to watch live programming content right on their mobile devices on the go, as the app will be available for both Android and iOS platforms. Disney’s CEO Bob Iger also notes that the live programming will include both live sports and live sporting events which “aren’t available on other channels,” meaning consumers will have incentive to give the service a try as they’ll get access to exclusive content.
ESPN Plus will feature a collection of different sporting events and sports content spanning MLB, NHL, MLS, collegiate sports, and tennis Grand Slam events, and will in total offer access to about 10,000 different sporting events each year. It’s not mentioned whether or not ESPN Plus will support things like Chromecast or Android TV, so right now it’s only confirmed that this live programming will be available on the mobile device itself that the ESPN app is installed on. Presumably, though, the service should support any other platforms where the ESPN app is already available, which means there is a good chance that the live content will be viewable on other platforms and not just on the smartphone or tablet screens. Right now there is no exact date for the release of the new revamped ESPN app that will include the new Plus service, so it could launch anytime in the next few months.