Today is the launch of the new ESPN app. This completely re-imagined experience includes the seamless integration of ESPN+, the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer premium subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International group, in partnership with ESPN.
With an elevated digital sports experience, this app becomes the premier, all-in-one digital sports platform for fans, giving them easy access to all of ESPN’s news, scores, analysis, video and audio content. Focusing on an enhanced design and keeping mobility in mind, the new ESPN app and ESPN+ are available across mobile and connected living room devices—with an optimized experience for each platform.
“This next-generation app is ESPN’s most sophisticated and elegant digital product experience, and a central piece of our next era of innovation,” said James Pitaro, ESPN President and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks. “No one is in a better position than ESPN to serve sports fans. With this launch, fans will find a re-imagined, easy to use and increasingly personalized experience that puts all of ESPN’s incredible content at their fingertips like never before. With the exciting introduction of ESPN+, they’ll also get more sports content than ever, with direct access to thousands of live games, incredible original programs and an unmatched on-demand library, all at a great price.”
A highly personalized experience is in store for mobile users. This experience begins on the home screen, which features a dynamic feed of relevant ESPN content and coverage—including scores, news, video clips, live events, statistics and more—that balances what is important to each individual fan and the most compelling content that ESPN knows sports fans need. There will also be three tiers of video access available on the mobile app. All three tiers are powered by BAMTECH Media’s best-in-class video platform. These tiers include: video clips and highlights for all users; “TV Everywhere Streaming” of live and on-demand content from ESPN’s U.S. linear and digital networks for pay TV subscribers; and ESPN+, for the direct-to-consumer streaming service’s subscribers.
Kevin Mayer, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International, The Walt Disney Company, added, “The launch of ESPN+ marks a new era of innovation for The Walt Disney Company, defined by a direct and personal relationship with our consumers. This product reflects our new direct-to-consumer strategy focused on combining our incomparable brands and unmatched content with industry-leading technology to give users an unparalleled digital experience. With BAMTECH Media’s state-of-the-art video platform, ESPN+ delivers an incredible experience for fans with a rich slate of content only ESPN can deliver.”
ESPN+ is being backed by American Express at launch. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. It will include live sports events, high-quality original shows and films, exclusive studio programs and and an unmatched on-demand library that includes the entire 30 for 30 archive, the best of ESPN’s award-winning newsmagazine program, E:60, and storytelling brand, SC Featured, and The Masters films, annual recaps of 57 years of The Masters, beginning with Arnold Palmer’s 1960 victory, and going right up until 2017.
“For the launch of ESPN+, our focus has been on applying the innovations in direct-to-consumer technology we’ve built at BAMTECH over the years to create an all-new best-in-class consumer experience that brings sports fans more of the content they love, wherever, whenever they want,” added Michael Paull, President, BAMTECH Media. “ESPN+ launches with several exciting product features, including an upgraded HD stream quality to make the action crisper and cleaner, and decreased video load time, getting fans into the live action faster.”
Subscribers of ESPN+ will receive app and streaming experience enhancements such as HD streaming; functionality that allows users to pause, rewind, restart and even multitask while streaming; limited advertising throughout the entire ESPN App or website; as well as the ability to also subscribe to additional premium streaming services like MLB.TV (and NHL.TV, beginning in 2018–19), all within the ESPN app environment.
The ESPN App with ESPN+ launches today on the following devices and platforms, with more to follow:
- Amazon: Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV smart TVs and Fire Tablets (4th generation and newer)
- Apple: iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. The ESPN App with ESPN+ will also be supported in the Apple TV App on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
- Google: Android phones, Android TV and Chromecast
ESPN+ is available for a seven-day free trial, followed by a subscription fee of just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with the ability to cancel at any time. During the first week of launch (April 12–18), fans are being offered a special extended 30-day free trial subscription backed by American Express.
Photo Credit: ESPN
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