Sports fans have a new reason to celebrate this summer. ESPN (traded as part of Disney – NYSE: DIS) is set to roll out its highly anticipated all-in-one streaming platform later this month, marking a decisive shift in how live sports will be delivered and consumed in the US. The new offering is not just another add-on or niche channel: this is a full-fledged, direct-to-consumer version of the ESPN experience millions know from cable.
Beginning August 21, viewers will have access to what ESPN describes as its “unlimited” subscription plan for $29.99 per month. This subscription unlocks the complete suite of ESPN’s linear networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, the SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS as well as ESPN Deportes. The lineup also extends to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SEC Network+, and ACCNX. Combined, these platforms will deliver an impressive 47,000 live events each year on top of studio shows, original programs, on-demand replays, and more.
For those who already find themselves juggling different sports apps and login credentials, this new service will feel refreshingly straightforward. It essentially brings the whole ESPN television package, and much of its digital-only content together under one roof. The company is also making the entry ramp a little more appealing with bundle deals that include Disney+ and Hulu, available at launch for $29.99 per month for the first year, letting cord-cutters get an even richer mix of entertainment with their sports fix.
The timing for this move is no accident. ESPN’s launch coincides with one of the busiest periods on the sports calendar. August means the start of both college football and the NFL seasons, along with high-profile events like the US Open tennis tournament. The service will also include coverage of international soccer, women’s college soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and a growing stable of niche programs. And things won’t slow down as the summer fades, as the approach of fall brings the WNBA and PLL playoffs, then the NBA and NHL seasons, UFC title bouts, and, for the first time with ESPN, major WWE showcase events starting in 2026.
Perhaps most significant is the depth of the television experience ESPN is promising for digital subscribers. Classic shows like SportsCenter, First Take, NFL Live, and the Pat McAfee Show will be there, alongside a rich library packed with 30 for 30 documentaries, original series, and recent game replays. Personalization is also taking a leap forward, with the enhanced ESPN app delivering more multiview options, integrated game stats, betting insights, fantasy sports, and a new “SC For You” experience designed for each user.
Behind the scenes, this launch also marks a new business era for ESPN. The company finalized a deal with the NFL, which now owns a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN, granting ESPN access to additional NFL games and exclusive programming, including some out-of-market preseason action for the next two football seasons. That partnership makes ESPN not only a hub for fans but also a strategic asset for the sports leagues themselves. Disney, meanwhile, continues to shake up television’s business model, as Wall Street and viewers alike watch closely to see how legacy networks and big streaming brands will shape the next chapter of live broadcast entertainment.
In terms of user experience and convenience, this could be the moment when streaming truly catches up to and in many ways surpasses the traditional cable bundle for sports fans. For $29.99 a month, subscribers are getting the closest thing yet to letting go of the cable package without giving up the content that matters most to sports followers. And unlike previous digital tries, which always came with a catch or some fine print, this version offers the full ESPN TV experience, with no strings attached.
