ESPN announced Wednesday that it will launch its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service Aug. 21, while unveiling major deals with the National Football League and WWE.
ESPN announced Wednesday that it will launch its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service Aug. 21, while unveiling major deals with the National Football League and WWE.
The Bristol-based sports media giant said it has reached agreements that will give the NFL a 10% equity stake in ESPN in exchange for NFL Network and other media assets, while securing exclusive U.S. rights to WWE's biggest events including WrestleMania starting in 2026.
The Walt Disney Co.-owned network began
laying the groundwork to sell its channel directly to cable cord-cutters as a subscription-streaming service in 2023.
The new standalone streaming service — called ESPN DTC — is priced at $29.99 per month with a lower-tier option available. It will offer subscribers access to all ESPN networks and about 47,000 live events annually.
The service includes on-demand replays, studio shows and original programming.
The timing of the launch coincides with the start of the college football and NFL seasons, U.S. Open tennis and international soccer.
"We are providing everything ESPN has to offer directly to fans and all in one place," ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said.
NFL partnership
Under the NFL deal, ESPN will own and operate NFL Network, which it will integrate into its direct-to-consumer service, along with other media assets owned by the NFL, including the linear RedZone Channel and NFL Fantasy.
ESPN will license three additional national NFL games per season through the NFL Network, giving it a total of 28 games per season versus 22 games before.
In addition to being integrated into ESPN’s streaming platform, the deal ensures NFL Network will remain available through traditional cable and satellite providers.
The NFL will continue to own and operate its retained media businesses including NFL Films, NFL.com and the NFL Podcast Network. It will also continue to own NFL RedZone, and will retain the rights to distribute it digitally.
WWE deal
Through the deal with WWE, also announced Wednesday, ESPN has secured the exclusive U.S. streaming rights to all WWE Premium Live Events — including WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series and Money in the Bank — beginning in 2026.
The five-year agreement runs through 2030 and will cost ESPN an average of $325 million per year, according to CNBC.
ESPN DTC will stream all WWE Premium Live Events annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms.
The agreement marks WWE's departure from NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service, where the events currently air.
Stamford-based WWE, formerly known as World Wrestling Entertainment, is part of the publicly traded company TKO Group Holdings Inc.
Aggressive push
The three announcements reflect ESPN's aggressive push into direct-to-consumer streaming as traditional cable subscriptions continue to decline.
The ESPN unlimited plan, priced at $29.99 per month, will provide access to all of ESPN's linear networks — ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes — in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX.
A lower-priced select plan at $11.99 per month will include ESPN+ content.
Also, there is a bundling offer available for the ESPN unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu at a special rate of $29.99 per month for the first 12 months.
ESPN will also debut an enhanced app on Aug. 21 that will offer personalized features including multiview options, integrated betting information, fantasy sports integration and a customized SportsCenter experience.
ESPN is 80% owned by ABC Inc. and 20% owned by Hearst Communications.
Disney, ESPN’s parent company, also reported its third quarter earnings Wednesday. Its net income for the quarter was $5.26 billion, more than twice the $2.62 billion it reported for the same period last year.
Meantime, it reported $23.65 billion in revenue, an increase of 2% from the third quarter of 2024, just missing analysts' projections.
Disney shares were trading at $114 Wednesday morning, down about 4%.
“The company is taking major steps forward in streaming with the upcoming launch of ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service, our just-announced plans with the NFL, and our forthcoming integration of Hulu into Disney+, creating a truly differentiated streaming proposition…” said Disney CEO Robert A. Iger.
