Shutterstock / Leonard Zhukovsky
Disney’s CEO Bob Iger announced today that ESPN’s over-the-top streaming service will be priced at $4.99 a month, Deadline reports.
The service will allow ESPN to deliver it’s video, podcasting and other media services directly to the consumer via streaming media as a standalone product rather than rely on tradition broadcast television. ESPN desperately needs this, as people are jumping off the pay-TV business like the Titanic (ESPN has dropped to 87 million homes since its peak of more than 100 million in 2011.)
Via Deadline:
The ESPN app experience, Iger said, will offer sports fans “a greatly expanded array” of content, including “countless scores and highlights,” plus podcasts and several live streams. MVPD subscribers will be able to access the app for free, while ESPN Plus subscribers will pay the monthly fee.
“We’re very excited to bring this product to market” in the spring, Iger said.
According to Sports Business Daily, the over-the-top ESPN service will largely feature niche sports that aren’t being carried on ESPN’s TV channels such as rugby, cricket, tennis, soccer and some college sports.
It will be available at launch via Apple iOS, Android and ChromeCast as the initial platforms.
What do you guys think: you buying?
[h/t Deadline]