History of ESPN+ in Timeline

ESPN+ is a subscription-based video streaming service in the U.S. owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between Disney and Hearst. Operating on technology from Disney Streaming (formerly BAMTech), it's one of Disney's main streaming brands alongside Disney+ and Hulu. ESPN+ offers a wide range of live sports events, original programming, and on-demand content not available on ESPN's traditional television channels. It focuses on niche sports, college events, and international competitions, often complementing ESPN's linear offerings with more in-depth coverage.

August 2016: Disney Acquires Minority Stake in BAMTech

In August 2016, The Walt Disney Company acquired a minority stake in BAMTech for $1 billion and announced plans for an ESPN over-the-top (OTT) service using BAMTech technology, drawing from ESPN-owned rights for events not broadcast on television. WatchESPN already used BAMTech's platform.

August 2017: Disney Invokes Option to Acquire Controlling Stake in BAMTech and Announces ESPN OTT Service

In August 2017, Disney invoked its option to acquire a controlling stake in BAMTech and announced plans to launch its ESPN OTT service in 2018. The new ESPN service would draw from ESPN-owned sports rights, as well as MLB, NHL and MLS content. A redesign of the ESPN app was planned to make it a "premier digital destination" for sports content.

December 2017: Disney Announces Intent to Acquire 21st Century Fox

In December 2017, Disney announced its intent to acquire 21st Century Fox after the spin-off of certain businesses, which included the Fox Sports Networks group of regional sports networks, leading to suggestions that Disney wanted to incorporate FSN's regional sports rights into the service.

February 2018: ESPN Aims for $4.99 Monthly Price

In February 2018, Iger stated that ESPN was aiming for a monthly price of $4.99 for the upcoming ESPN+ service.

March 14, 2018: ESPN+ and BAMTech Placed in Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International Segment

On March 14, 2018, ESPN+ and BAMTech were placed into the newly formed Disney business segment, Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International.

April 2, 2018: ESPN+ Launch Date Announced

On April 2, 2018, ESPN announced that ESPN+ would officially launch on April 12, 2018, and confirmed its $4.99 per-month pricing.

April 12, 2018: ESPN+ Officially Launches

On April 12, 2018, ESPN+ officially launched as a subscription streaming service.

May 2018: UFC Announces Rights Deals with ESPN

In May 2018, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced new five-year digital and linear television rights deals with ESPN, effective January 2019.

August 21, 2018: ESPN Insider Discontinued and Folded into ESPN+

On August 21, 2018, ESPN.com's existing subscription service ESPN Insider was discontinued and folded into ESPN+, adding its premium web content to the service.

October 2018: ESPN+ Obtains Rights for Swedish Allsvenskan and Danish Superliga

In October 2018, ESPN+ obtained the rights for the Swedish Allsvenskan and the Danish Superliga, declaring their intent to broadcast one match per week for each league.

October 31, 2018: Russell Wolff Named Executive Vice President and General Manager

On October 31, 2018, ESPN executive Russell Wolff was named executive vice president and general manager of ESPN+.

2018: Planned Launch of ESPN OTT Service

In 2018, Disney planned to launch its ESPN over-the-top (OTT) service, drawing from ESPN-owned sports rights, as well as MLB, NHL and MLS content.

2018: PGA Tour Live Included on ESPN+

PGA Tour Live was included for the 2018 PGA Tour season on ESPN+.

January 2019: UFC Rights Deals with ESPN Effective

In January 2019, the new five-year digital and linear television rights deals between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and ESPN went into effect. The first ESPN+ event, UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, generated 525,000 new subscribers on the day of the event alone.

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March 2019: American Athletic Conference Announces Media Rights Deal with ESPN

In March 2019, the American Athletic Conference announced a 12-year media rights deal with ESPN, under which ESPN+ will carry the majority of events not aired by ESPN's linear channels.

March 18, 2019: ESPN+ becomes exclusive U.S. distributor of UFC PPV events

On March 18, 2019, ESPN and UFC reached a two-year contract extension, making ESPN+ the exclusive U.S. distributor of all UFC pay-per-view events for residential customers, starting with UFC 236. Viewers must now have an ESPN+ subscription to purchase these events.

May 2019: ESPN+ to Carry World TeamTennis Matches

In May 2019, it was announced that ESPN+ would carry 18 World TeamTennis matches.

September 2019: ESPN+ Acquires Rights to Germany's Bundesliga Soccer League

In September 2019, ESPN+ announced its acquisition of rights to Germany's Bundesliga soccer league beginning in 2020, under a six-year deal.

September 2019: ESPN The Magazine Discontinuation

In September 2019, the complimentary subscription to ESPN The Magazine, which was included with ESPN Insider, was discontinued.

October 2019: ESPN+ Adds Pre-Roll Advertising

In October 2019, ESPN+ began to add pre-roll advertising to on-demand content on the service.

November 12, 2019: Disney Bundle Introduced

Concurrent with the launch of Disney+ on November 12, 2019, the Disney Bundle was introduced, allowing users to subscribe to ESPN+, Disney+ and the ad-supported tier of Hulu for $12.99 per month.

2019: Planned Launch of Disney Entertainment OTT Service

In 2019, Disney planned to launch a Disney entertainment over-the-top (OTT) service, thus ending its relationship with Netflix.

2019: PGA Tour Live Moved to NBC Sports Gold

In 2019, PGA Tour Live moved from ESPN+ to NBC Sports Gold.

2019: ESPN+ Acquires Third-Tier Media Rights for Big 12 Conference Teams

In the 2019–20 season, ESPN+ acquired the third-tier media rights for all but two Big 12 Conference teams; these telecasts are carried under the branding Big 12 Now.

2019: Launch Content Included Copa America

Launch content included the 2019 Copa America.

October 22, 2020: ESPN.com Articles Paywalled and Radio Programs Moved to ESPN+

On October 22, 2020, it was announced that a larger amount of ESPN.com articles would become paywalled behind ESPN+. It was also announced that video simulcasts of ESPN Radio programs would be moved exclusively to ESPN+ from the ESPN networks.

2020: ESPN+ to Offer Supplemental Feeds During PGA Championship

Beginning 2020, ESPN+ will offer supplemental feeds during the PGA Championship, including during CBS broadcast windows.

2020: ESPN+ Airs Squeeze Play During MLB Wild Card Series

During the 2020 Major League Baseball season's Wild Card Series round, ESPN+ aired Squeeze Play—which featured live look-ins and analysis of the seven series ESPN held rights to.

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2020: ESPN+ to broadcast Bundesliga Soccer League

In September 2019, ESPN+ announced its acquisition of rights to Germany's Bundesliga soccer league beginning in 2020, under a six-year deal.

2020: ESPN+ Held Exclusive Rights to Chicago Fire Matches Through 2020

Through 2020, ESPN+ held exclusive rights to all regionally televised Chicago Fire matches.

January 2021: ESPN+ offers commercial subscription service

In January 2021, Joe Hand Promotions launched a commercial subscription of ESPN+ for Business, providing limited live sports content via DirecTV to commercial establishments.

February 2021: ESPN+ Obtains Rights for Belgian Pro League

In February 2021, ESPN+ obtained the rights for the Belgian Pro League, and are expected to broadcast 3 matches per week.

March 10, 2021: ESPN Re-acquires Rights to the National Hockey League

On March 10, 2021, ESPN re-acquired rights to the National Hockey League under a new seven-year deal beginning in the 2021–22 season. Under this contract, ESPN+ holds exclusive rights to at least 50 games per-season, which are also available on Hulu.

March 2021: ESPN+ Programming Available via Hulu

In March 2021, ESPN+ programming became available via the Hulu website and apps for subscribers to both services, via a branded "ESPN+ on Hulu" hub.

September 2021: Hotstar Content Migrated to ESPN+ and Hulu

In September 2021, Disney began to wind down the U.S. version of Hotstar, a streaming service targeting Indian Americans, and migrated its content exclusively to ESPN+ and Hulu. This included its rights to home matches of the India national cricket team and Indian Premier League.

2021: ESPN+ Gains Simulcast Rights to Monday Night Football

A week later after re-acquiring rights to the National Hockey League, as part of ESPN's renewal of its rights to the NFL, ESPN+ gained simulcast rights to Monday Night Football broadcasts beginning in the 2021 NFL season.

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2021: ESPN+ Carries Out-of-Market NHL Games Under NHL Power Play

As of the 2021–22 season, ESPN+ carries out-of-market National Hockey League games under the NHL Power Play on ESPN+ banner.

2021: ESPN+ Price Increase to $6.99 per month

In 2021, the price of ESPN+ reached $6.99 per month following two smaller increases.

April 8, 2022: ESPN to Livestream Savannah Bananas Games

On April 8, 2022, ESPN announced a deal with the Savannah Bananas to livestream two games of their Banana Ball World Tour on April 8 and 9.

May 2022: ESPN+ Acquires Rights to Oklahoma Sooners Athletics

In May 2022, ESPN announced its acquisition of the third-tier media rights to Oklahoma Sooners athletics; the events will be carried on ESPN+ under the "SoonerVision on ESPN+" branding. Also ESPN announced a rights agreement with the Northwoods League to stream select games of their 2022 season each day exclusively on ESPN+.

July 2022: ESPN+ Price Increase Announced

In July 2022, Disney announced that the standalone monthly price of ESPN+ would increase by three dollars, or 43%, to $9.99 per month beginning in late August. The price reached $6.99 per month in 2021 following two smaller increases.

2022: ESPN+ Holds Exclusive Rights to NFL International Series Game

Beginning in 2022, ESPN+ holds exclusive rights to one NFL International Series game per-season in a Sunday morning window.

2022: PGA Tour Live Returns to ESPN+

In 2022, PGA Tour Live returned to ESPN+ as part of a new long-term deal through 2030.

September 2023: ESPN+ Available to Spectrum TV Select Plus Subscribers

Following a carriage agreement in September 2023, ESPN+ became available to Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers at no additional charge. The agreement was also stated to include distribution rights to a future ESPN "flagship" streaming service, expected to launch in 2025.

December 2024: ESPN+ Programming Available via Disney+

In December 2024, ESPN+ programming became available via the Disney+ website and apps for those who are subscribed to the services, via a branded ESPN hub.

2024: Oklahoma Sooners Deal Through 2024

The deal for ESPN+ to acquire rights to Oklahoma Sooners athletics will be in effect through the 2024–25 athletics season.

May 2025: ESPN+ to Be Subsumed by New ESPN Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Service

In May 2025, Disney announced that the ESPN+ service would be effectively subsumed by the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, with existing subscribers automatically becoming subscribers to the "Select" tier of the new ESPN DTC service. However, ESPN+ will remain separately active for an unspecified period of time due to contractual obligations with certain content providers.

2025: Future ESPN "flagship" streaming service

In 2025 a future ESPN "flagship" streaming service, expected to launch.

2025: ESPN+ to Be Absorbed into New ESPN Streaming Service

In late 2025, ESPN+ will be absorbed into the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service. However, ESPN+ will remain separately active for an unspecified period of time due to contractual obligations with some of its content providers.