ESPN’s New Streaming Service, ESPN+, Set To Launch April 12

ESPN had already announced that its new streaming service, ESPN+, would launch this spring. An official release date has now been set: April 12, 2018.

ESPN Streaming Service News

ESPN+ will cost subscribers $4.99 per month and offer streaming capabilities for live sports, original content, and on-demand programming delivered via a restructured and personalized ESPN app. Fans will also be able to stream content via ESPN.com.

In August 2017, Disney first unveiled its venture to release a new streaming business. The giant company — which owns ESPN — purchased a majority stake in the baseball streaming technology BAMTech, and its two new streaming services: ESPN+ and an unnamed Disney-branded service set to be released in late 2019.

Ever since, details on the ESPN service have steadily been emerging. Disney CEO Bob Iger said in November 2017, for example, that ESPN+ would be able to stream ESPN channels on an authenticated basis, as well as the extra over-the-top live content that comes with the ESPN+ subscription.

In February, the network also confirmed access to ESPN’s 8 TV channels, like ESPN and ESPN2, would continue to require a pay TV subscription. Subscribers would still gain access to these channels thanks to the updated and refurbished ESPN app through a special live streaming section (“TV Everywhere” video).

Here are some of the live sports events that will be included in ESPN+:

• Over 180 MLB games: In other words, one game per day throughout the regular season. Every MLB team will be added.
• Over 180 NHL games: ESPN+ subscribers will get a daily NHL game throughout the regular season, so as to follow the league’s schedule.
• Year-round boxing: ESPN+ will feature boxing throughout the year, including exclusive fights like the April 21 Amir Khan vs. Phil Lo Greco bout in Liverpool, England; as well as undercard fights during the year from Top Rank on ESPN events, re-airs of all Top Rank on ESPN and PPV events. A selection of legendary fights from the Top Rank and ESPN Big Fights archives will also be available.
• Over 250 MLS games: Exclusive access to the entire MLS out-of-market schedule, with over 250 games. It will also be the exclusive local-market home to the Chicago Fire, with 27 matches available to Chicago subscribers.
• Thousands of College Sports games and events: Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Track & Field, Football, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Wrestling, Swimming, Diving, Gymnastics, and Ice Hockey will all be seasonally available. Conferences include America East, ASun, Big South, Big West, Horizon, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC,  MEAC, Missouri Valley, NEC, Southern Conference, Southland, Summit League, Sun Belt, WAC and more.
• PGA Tour live golf: More than 100 days of coverage from 31 PGA Tour events, including THE PLAYERS Championship, the FedEx Cup Playoffs, AT&T Byron Nelson, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Travelers Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and dozens more.
• Grand Slam Tennis: Tons of singles and doubles tennis matches from major tournaments like Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open
• Rugby & Cricket: Hundreds of matches from SANZAAR (including Super Rugby, The Rugby Championship, the Lions Series, Mitre10 Cup, Currie Cup, Bledisloe Cup and other international matches), the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series, and 18 regular-season matches in the inaugural season of Major League Rugby, the new American professional rugby union league. Also accessible are games across Test, ODI and T20 formats from New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Ireland.

Among the other package deals consumers can choose from is the MLB.TV out-of-market package, which can be purchased through the ESPN app for $24.99 per month, as well as the NHL.TV out-of-market package, ESPN added.