ESPN Readies for Direct-to-Consumer Launch With Disney+ Integration

Exciting news for sports fans and Disney+ users! Starting this week, you’ll notice a new ESPN tile on your Disney+ app homepage if you’re in the U.S. This tile will give you access to all the great content on ESPN+ right at your fingertips.

But that’s not all—Disney is gearing up to launch a new service in 2025 that will bring even more ESPN live offerings to the app. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro shared, “This is really the next step for us toward the launch of ESPN flagship direct-to-consumer.” The new streaming service will be part of a larger Disney entertainment bundle, although the price and name are still under wraps.

With 56 million subscribers to Disney+ and 25.6 million subscribers to ESPN+ in the U.S. and Canada, Disney is looking to streamline the user experience by including all ESPN content within the Disney+ app. This move aims to make things easier for viewers and benefit the company’s advertising business by consolidating all three services in one place.

Disney+ will also be offering select ESPN+ events for free to subscribers, starting with the animated version of the Dallas Cowboys’ Monday Night Football game on Dec. 9, all five Christmas Day NBA games, plus NHL and tennis action, and more. This is a great opportunity for ESPN to learn more about what interests the broader Disney+ audience and refine their content offerings for the future.

While you’ll find tons of great sports content on Disney+, don’t worry—the ESPN app isn’t going anywhere. In fact, ESPN is planning a big app revamp next year with personalized recaps, AI-driven features, betting integrations, and more. So whether you’re on Disney+ or the ESPN app, there’s plenty to look forward to in the world of sports entertainment!