Disney's New Flagship Sports App to be Named 'ESPN'

Disney's flagship sports streaming app will be called "ESPN." The app is expected to cost $25 or $30 per month and will be announced by the company.

Disney's sports media division is set to launch its highly anticipated all-access streaming service, which will be named "ESPN." According to sources cited by CNBC [1], the service will be priced at either $25 or $30 per month, with details to be announced next week. This move aims to simplify the increasingly cluttered streaming landscape, filled with various product names and prices.

The new ESPN streaming service, expected to debut this fall, will offer a comprehensive range of live sports, programming on other ESPN networks, fantasy products, and new betting tie-ins, among other features. This is in contrast to the current ESPN+ service, which lacks access to the most-watched live games like Monday Night Football, available exclusively on traditional pay-TV.

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro has chosen to name the application "ESPN" to maintain uniformity and avoid confusion among consumers. The existing ESPN+ service will continue to operate as a less expensive option for consumers. The new streaming app will be accessible through a reimagined ESPN mobile application, which will act as a gateway to the all-access service on smart TVs and devices.

Disney's aggressive preparation for this service is evident in their continued efforts to grow their direct-to-consumer (DTC) business. Despite recent economic headwinds, Disney remains optimistic about the potential of the new streaming service. The company expects the service to preserve its multichannel ecosystem while also growing its DTC business.

The name and pricing of the new ESPN streaming service will be officially announced next week, coinciding with a frenetic period in which major U.S. media companies make upfront presentations to advertisers.

References:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/09/espn-flagship-streaming-app-to-be-named-espn.html
[2] https://www.theverge.com/news/664297/espn-standalone-streaming-service-name
[3] https://frontofficesports.com/espn-income-down-as-subscribers-fall-but-flagship-launch-looms/