Get ready, Disney fans! Disney+ is gearing up to bring even more magic to your screens with the addition of live sports from ESPN, a move announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger on a recent earnings call. By the end of this year, expect an ESPN tile right within the Disney+ app, offering subscribers a taste of live games and studio programming. This exciting blend of Disney’s treasured stories and the thrill of live sports marks an enchanting new chapter for Disney+.
“We see this as just the beginning,” said Iger. “As we prepare for the launch of our standalone ESPN streaming service in fall 2025, Disney+ subscribers will be the first to experience a select amount of ESPN’s live content.” This strategy seems designed to pique interest and steer viewers towards the upcoming ESPN platform while enriching the Disney+ experience.
Disney+ has already seen success by incorporating content from Hulu, which contributed to the platform’s first profitable quarter earlier this year, adding $47 million to Disney’s coffers. This new sports endeavor looks set to build on that momentum, offering subscribers access to live sports events that Disney will have in abundance, thanks to an impending deal with Fox Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery. Imagine catching NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL games seamlessly through your favorite Disney streaming service!
This move places Disney+ among a growing number of streaming platforms diving into live sports. Amazon, for example, inked a deal with Diamond Sports in January to allow its Prime Video members to catch MLB, NBA, and NHL games. Meanwhile, Apple is spending big on Major League Soccer and MLB, and Max is rolling out a live sports package featuring everything from NCAA Men’s March Madness to U.S. Soccer.
With live sports being a major draw for streamers, this new Disney+ addition aims to capture both sports enthusiasts and casual viewers. What’s more, it may keep them coming back for the diverse mix of content that Disney+ already offers.
What are you most excited to watch on Disney+ once ESPN content is added? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below—and don’t forget to share this article with your fellow Disney aficionados!
