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ESPN is ratcheting up the price of its streaming services — just in time for the busy fall sports season.
Effective Sept. 17, the Disney-owned sports giant is increasing the monthly and annual pricing for both ESPN Unlimited
and the scaled-down ESPN Select tier.
The price of ESPN Unlimited is increasing from $29.99 to $31.99/month. The cost of the annual ESPN Unlimited plan is rising from $299.99 to $319.99/year. In addition to everything on the ESPN and ESPN2 linear networks, the stand-alone sports package includes ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, SECN, SECN+, ACCN, and ACCNX plus thousands of additional live sporting events per year.
All told, ESPN Unlimited offers more than 47,000 live events each year, including every major sport and championship ESPN presents. The streaming service also recently integrated NFL Network and CW Sports on the ESPN App, and includes features like the personalized “SportsCenter For You”; Verts vertical video; and StreamCenter, a synchronized two-screen experience connecting mobile and connected TV devices.
ESPN Select is going from $12.99 to $13.99/month, while the annual plan is increasing from $129.99 to $139.99/year. ESPN Select provides some 32,000 live events annually but does not include access to the ESPN linear networks.
In an Aug. 20 memo to ESPN staffers reviewed by Variety, chairman Jimmy Pitaro praised the team that launched the stand-alone streaming service a year ago.
Disney has not disclosed how many subscribers have signed up for the ESPN streaming plans.
“From the beginning, we set out to provide sports fans with optionality and a new way to connect with ESPN. Early on, we have delivered,” Pitaro wrote. “To everyone across ESPN and Disney who continues to work tirelessly to build this platform — thank you. While we’re still in the early innings of our direct-to-consumer journey, one year after the launch of ESPN DTC, we move forward with absolute confidence in where we are headed.”
“We’re heading into the fall in an exceptionally strong position,” Pitaro wrote in the memo. “The NFL preseason has begun, and we are truly excited about the entire season leading to our first Super Bowl. College football will also kick off soon, a new LaLiga season is already underway, U.S. Open tennis begins this weekend, and so much more lies ahead. Our rights portfolio has never been stronger, and we have strong momentum.”
According to Pitaro, “maximizing access” the ESPN streaming services has been a priority, “and that focus has led to meaningful progress this year. In fact, subscribers across nearly every major pay TV provider — including recent additions Comcast Xfinity and YouTube TV — can unlock the full ESPN Unlimited tier experience on the ESPN App at no additional cost. We are also focused on supporting Disney+ by unlocking additional content for its subscribers, in service of our One Disney initiative.”
