Star Wars and Slam Dunks: Here’s How Disney+’s ESPN Integration Will Work
Everything you need to know about Bob Iger’s new streaming vision.
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Most sporting events usually involve two teams, but over on Disney+, the streamer is introducing a third to the mix: ESPN+.
Following in the footsteps of the successful integration Hulu into Disney+ launch, the sports-streaming service will finally be available as part of the company’s “one-app experience” starting this week. It’s a change that Disney sports exec Brian Marshall says he hopes will make Disney+ “stickier” — a.k.a. get you to stay glued to the screen longer (or at least less likely to cancel), whether you’re a sports megafan or just a casual one. As Disney+ president Alisa Bowen puts it: “Network television has a long and successful history of being able to launch new shows off the back of major sporting events. That’s certainly an opportunity for us. But above all else, this is about repositioning Disney+ as something with content for everyone, content for the whole family, and the ability to really build that co-viewing off the back of sports and general entertainment is a really big part of that evolution.”
So, with Disney+’s new “multi-genre experience” poised to change your streaming habits, you may have questions. We’ll break down what we’ve learned about what you can expect from ESPN+ and Disney+ going forward.
So, this is just like when Hulu came to Disney+?
Pretty much. ESPN+’s homecoming to the Disney streamer should be a bit easier to navigate if you’ve had experience with Hulu on Disney+. It’s essentially the same process: Consumers who subscribe to both (or all three) of the streamers can access all of ESPN+ and Disney+’s offerings under one platform, Disney+. But even if you don’t have ESPN+ yet, starting this week, Disney+ is giving you an opportunity to “sample” a notable amount of its programming anyway. So, regardless of whether you have ESPN+ or not, Disney+ subscribers will be able to tune in to “The Simpsons Funday Football” game this Monday, December 9. (The streaming service will be doing the same with a handful of Hulu programming like Shōgun and Reservation Dogs, as well, for stand-alone Disney+ subscribers.)
Bowen said this “sample content” will serve as a way to see the “full value of our bundle” for those on the fence about ESPN+ or Hulu. The service will regularly switch out the offerings to make sure it’s offering something that “is of the moment.” “We’re intending to deliver a select number of live events every month to all Disney+ subscribers. These will be events from a range of leagues including the NBA, the WNBA NHL, even tennis.” Basically, whatever it takes to get you to upgrade to the full bundle.
How does ESPN on Disney+ work?
We were shown the beta experience and it’s relatively similar to Hulu on Disney+ but with a few upgrades. You must subscribe to ESPN+ to get its full library of offerings first and foremost. You can upgrade within the app easily, and conveniently, but if you already have ESPN+, you should see the tile available right next to Hulu. There you’ll have access to live games, and there’s even specific hubs for different leagues and programming.
Will there still be an ESPN+ app?
Yes. While Disney seems quite pleased with the success of Hulu on Disney+ and the introduction of ESPN on Disney+ — Bowen touted “40 percent of the entitled subscribers are engaging with Hulu content on Disney+ every month” — the company is still keeping its current ESPN+ stand-alone app. There is even a “flagship” ESPN direct-to-consumer app, which Bob Iger announced is coming in fall 2025 — ESPN+ senior vice-president John Lasker revealed to us it will launch in August. The “more robust” flagship app will also be a part of the ESPN hub once it launches, as well, but we’ll talk about that more next fall.
How much will this all cost?
As of now, there’s been no price hike associated with the introduction of ESPN on Disney+. (The last uptick in price was in August.) And Disney hasn’t debuted a slimmer bundle to own just ESPN+ and Disney+ like it has with Hulu, a.k.a. the Duo Bundle in Basic and Premium. To get the sports streamer and Disney+, you’ll need to opt for the trio bundle that includes Hulu for either $16.99 a month (the basic ad-supported plan) or $26.99 (the ad-free premium tier). ESPN+ on its own is $11.99, so the basic bundle comes with two more services for 5 bucks more
Will ESPN+ (and Hulu) ever go away and just become Disney+?
Maybe one day — but not anytime soon.The stand-alone app for ESPN+ is staying, and with a significant redesign to boot, so clearly the company still has plans for its stand-alone apps as well as its “one-app experience.” Disney is all about giving you options at the moment. The company had a rough year in 2023 with a loss of $387 million in its third quarter. Back then, Iger claimed that its streamer would be profitable by fall 2024. A few weeks ago, during the company’s most recent earnings report, Iger revealed a 4.4 million sub increase over Q3, and “projected roughly $1 billion in operating profit from its Disney+ and Hulu entertainment-streaming businesses for fiscal 2025.” Advertising has been a boon for them, and most of its current bundle packaging and pricing makes its ad-supported plans the more enticing options for most consumers. Bowen herself said Hulu and ESPN on Disney+ is an “optimistic” way to “drive further adoption of the bundle.” All hail the sneaky return of cable!
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