For those of you who just want ESPN, you’re in luck — you may only have to wait one more year if comments from Disney’s CEO are any indication.
During an interview with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin, Disney CEO Bob Iger said ESPN’s direct-to-consumer offering would launch next year, include all of ESPN’s programming, and feature new personalization and integration with ESPN’s fantasy platforms and ESPN Bet. However, Iger seemed to indicate that ESPN and ESPN+, the company’s existing streaming service, would live independently from one another. Iger said the two streaming plans would offer different options to sports fans. Currently, “ESPN DTC” does not have a price attached to it.
“[The ESPN DTC platform] will have many more features and provide a much more immersive experience for the sports fan than this bundle has,” Iger said to CNBC. “This bundle is really a channel bundle.”
The “channel bundle” Iger is referring to is yet another ESPN sports streaming endeavor — the upcoming joint venture service between the Worldwide Leader, WarnerBros. Discovery, and Fox Sports. The three will reportedly team up to deliver their combined sports offerings on one platform that is expected to launch in the fall of 2024. The new platform does not have a name or a price point just yet.
About the joint service, Iger said, “The launch of this new streaming sports service is a significant moment for Disney and ESPN, a major win for sports fans, and an important step forward for the media business. This means the full suite of ESPN channels will be available to consumers alongside the sports programming of other industry leaders as part of a differentiated sports-centric service. I’m grateful to Jimmy Pitaro and the team at ESPN, who are at the forefront of innovating on behalf of consumers to create new offerings with more choice and greater value.”
As ESPN continues to bleed cable subscribers, the company is looking for new strategic pivots to make its business sustainable. ESPN has even looked into partnerships with sports leagues like the NFL to generate income.