Disney+ continues to grow as the main destination for media that comes from The Walt Disney Company. After earlier adding a Hulu tile and hub this year, a new ESPN tile and hub has been added to Disney’s streaming service. This makes Disney+ now a destination for fans looking for ESPN+ sports and streaming content. It also now makes Disney+ a destination for sports, general entertainment, and kids and family programming within this single app.
Those who subscribe to the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle in the U.S. will gain access to ESPN’s content within the Disney+ app.
“This launch really puts a cherry on top of a fantastic year of innovation at Disney+,” said Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+. “Earlier in the year, we made Hulu available in the Disney+ app, and now we’re doing the same for ESPN+. This gives our bundle subscribers one place to consume everything they love from all our brands.”
The change in experience will be immediate. John Lasker, Senior Vice President of ESPN+, shared, “In the first 90 days, bundle subscribers should expect 5,000 live events, including NFL, NBA, NHL, College Basketball, and the Australian Open. Also, new originals from 30 for 30 and ESPN Original Series.”
Currently, ESPN+ offers access to over 30,000 live sports events per year. This includes games and events from MLB, WNBA, college sports, tennis, golf, and more. A library of on-demand replays, original content, and studio programming will be available through Disney+ for eligible bundle subscribers.
New Experience for Disney+ Standalone Subscribers
Today also sees the arrival of a new experience for Disney+ standalone subscribers. This brings both Hulu and ESPN+ to the app, even for those who don’t bundle these with Disney+.
“One of the things I’m most excited about with this launch is that we’re also making the ESPN and Hulu tiles visible to all subscribers,” Bowen said. “That means, for our Disney+ standalone subscribers, they’ll have a really easy way to discover everything we offer from these two incredible brands, and have the ability to upgrade their subscription for the full bundle experience.”
For those with a standalone Disney+ subscription, access will be available for select content that includes live sports events, studio shows, and also ESPN Films from ESPN+. There will also be a select collection of TV series and films from Hulu. In the coming weeks, ESPN+ will offer The Simpsons Funday Football, Dunk the Halls, select 30 For 30 documentaries, and also Day 1 coverage of the Australian Open. Hulu programming on Disney+ will include movies and series that include Shōgun, Will Trent, Solar Opposites, Reservation Dogs, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and more.
The launching of ESPN on Disney+ will change the Disney+ experience immediately. It will also set the table for an expansion of sports offerings on Disney+ in the U.S. when ESPN’s flagship direct-to-consumer product launches in the Fall of 2025.
“There’s nothing like live sports,” Lasker added. “Live sports are storytelling in real time. They’re community, they bring people together for shared experiences that last lifetimes and generations. ESPN’s unrivaled portfolio of live rights will deliver for sports fans on Disney+.”
What do you think of ESPN being added to Disney+? Are you a bundle subscriber or a standalone Disney+ subscriber? What content are you most excited about with the addition of ESPN and Hulu tiles on Disney+? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
