WASHINGTON — The battle for the future of sports broadcasting is already well underway. But as more and more consumers cut the cord, ditching cable for other alternatives, how is ESPN — the industry leader — adjusting?
One way is through the introduction of ESPN+, a content service launched last month, which costs $4.99 per month (with a promotional month free) and is accessible via ESPN.com, its own app, and streaming devices. A mix of live, taped and original programming, it may offer a chance to stem the tide of subscriber losses.
ESPN+ is driven first and foremost by live sports offerings, including more than 180 MLB and NHL games (at least one per day), the entire out-of-market MLS schedule, and college sports from more than 20 conferences around the country. There is also golf, tennis, boxing, cricket, rugby and soccer from lower levels both at home (USL) and abroad (EFL).
Unfortunately, it does not serve as a workaround for those who have cut the cord and are looking to find a way to watch the Nats or O’s. The service only streams a select number of MLB games each day, and local games within the MASN footprint are still blacked out. So unless you use a VPN service that anonymizes your IP address, even the select Nats and O’s games that are broadcast over ESPN+ won’t be available to you in the D.C. area.
“Just as with games on traditional TV, blackout restrictions will apply in local markets (though we are able to offer an alternate game option into the local market). In addition to this, fans can purchase the entire MLB.TV out-of-market package for an additional fee — and can watch it right inside ESPN+. By nature, that out-of-market package does have blackout restrictions,” an ESPN representative said in an email to WTOP.
If all that seems like what’s left is a fair amount of niche sports markets, well, you’d be right. MLS fans probably get the biggest boon, being able to watch the entire rest of the league. And for those who went to college outside the D.C. area, particularly non-power five schools, there’s a chance to catch sports from your alma mater that you’d never otherwise see.
It does serve as a potential hub for your viewing experience, as alluded to above, as you can add the MLB Extra Innings or NHL Center Ice packages to unlock full viewing around the leagues. Long term, that may be more the strategic aim of the whole enterprise, especially since ESPN now owns 75 percent of MLB’s BamTech, which they spent $1.58 billion to acquire an additional 42 percent stake in last summer.
There’s a small package of original programming on ESPN+ as well, including “Draft Academy,” “Quest for the Stanley Cup,” the new Kobe Bryant show “Detail,” “In the Crease,” and “ESPN FC.” Notably, ESPN aired its latest 30-for-30 original film exclusively on the platform. ESPN+ also provides access to archived “E: 60“ and “SC Featured“ productions, but it’s unclear at this point how that archive will continue to expand in the future.
“We will learn as we go and continue to adapt and evolve our approach as needed to maximize for fans, but we do not have new details to share regarding other archives,” said the representative.
As for the video quality, it’s great. It holds up well in full screen mode, though I had some occasional stalling at certain points, likely related to my own internet connection. Luckily, for those with Roku, you can add the service as a channel option and watch directly through your television in broadcast quality.
ESPN+ is only available in the U.S. at this point, and the company is not reporting any subscription numbers at this point. But that doesn’t mean it won’t grow beyond its current scope in the future.
“The platform has been built to be global, which gives us the ability to examine opportunities and potentially expand into other markets in the future if/when/where it makes sense,” said the representative.
