According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney CEO Bob Iger unveiled plans to introduce an ESPN tile within the Disney+ platform in a strategic move to strengthen its foothold in the competitive streaming landscape. This initiative, slated to materialize by the conclusion of the current calendar year, aims to offer users a curated selection of live games and studio programming seamlessly integrated into the Disney+ experience. Iger disclosed this development during the company’s second-quarter earnings call on Tuesday.
The incorporation of an ESPN tile marks a preliminary step towards incorporating sports content into Disney’s streaming ecosystem, as the entertainment giant gears up for the anticipated launch of its standalone ESPN streaming service in the fall of 2025. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Iger emphasized the significance of this move in familiarizing Disney+ and Hulu subscribers with the forthcoming sports-centric offering, thereby enhancing overall engagement across Disney’s streaming bundle.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this announcement follows the recent integration of Hulu into the Disney+ bundle for subscribers, a move that has yielded promising early results according to Iger. “We’re confident or optimistic we’re going to end up with an NBA deal that will be long-term in our best interest and the best interest of our subscribers,” stated Iger, underscoring Disney’s ongoing negotiations with major sports leagues.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the standalone ESPN streaming service, positioned as an integral component of the Disney+ bundle, is poised to offer a comprehensive array of ESPN channels and premium sports content, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL coverage, along with an extensive library of programming, including the acclaimed 30 for 30 documentary series.
In anticipation of the standalone ESPN platform’s launch, Iger hinted at various innovative features designed to elevate the streaming experience, promising subscribers “many more features” than the joint service established through the partnership with Warner Bros, Discovery and Fox.