Digitaltveurope.com

ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer offering, ESPN+, is due to launch in the US on April 12, priced at US$4.99 per-month.

The subscription streaming service will be integrated into a redesigned version of the ESPN App and will also be available online at ESPN.com.

ESPN+ will be powered by BAMTech and will include live sports, original content and a library of on-demand programming.

Its live sports line-up will include MLB baseball, NHL ice hockey, MLS soccer, a wide range of college sports, PGA Tour golf, Grand Slam tennis, boxing and international rugby and cricket.

“ESPN was built on a belief in innovation and the powerful connection between sports and a remarkable array of fans. That same belief is at the heart of ESPN+ and the new ESPN App,” said James Pitaro, ESPN president and co-chair, Disney Media Networks.

“With ESPN+, fans have access to thousands more live games, world class original programs and on-demand sports content, all at a great price. They will get all of that as a part of a completely re-imagined, increasingly personalised ESPN App that provides easy, one-stop access to everything ESPN offers.”

ESPN+ is the first direct-to-consumer service offering from Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International – the multiplatform media, technology and distribution organisation created by Disney’s Media Networks and Studio Entertainment groups.

A separate Disney-branded and BAMTech-powered direct-to-consumer SVOD service, featuring Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm movies, is due to launch in late 2019.

ESPN’s parent company, Disney, agreed last year to pay US$1.58 billion (€1.34 billion) to up its stake in BamTech to 75%.