ESPN is set to launch its new all-in-one streaming service on Thursday, offering a personalized experience for sports fans. The service will be available under the title “ESPN” at $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year.
The new feature, called “SportsCenter for You,” uses AI-generated commentary to provide users with personalized videos based on their interests. Other app-based features include interactive betting and fantasy sports, as well as a social media-like feed called “Verts.”
A key component of the service is “StreamCenter,” which allows users to sync their ESPN app and TV, enabling real-time stats, odds, and shopping deals during sporting events. Users can also use their mobile device as a secondary controller for the program on their TV screen.
Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN will be offered together at $29.99 per month with ads or $49.99 per month without ads, while a bundled ESPN and Fox offering is set to launch on October 2 for $39.99 per month. A separate bundle of ESPN and NFL+ is also available starting September 3 for $39.99 per month.
A lower-priced version of the streaming service featuring a narrower set of content will cost $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year. Current cable subscribers can access the new service with full authorization from their cable provider, although some providers remain unavailable due to ongoing negotiations.
Disney’s expansion into streaming services has seen significant growth, adding 1.8 million subscribers to Disney+ in its most recent quarter, bringing total global subscribers to nearly 128 million. The company aims to reach young viewers with the ESPN streaming service, as CEO Bob Iger said, “The more ESPN can be present for a new generation of consumers with a product that serves them really well, the better off ESPN’s business is.”
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/espns-new-streaming-service/story?id=124772511