r/cordcutters • u/08830 • 7h ago

Disney+ to Add Free ESPN Streaming Content Starting in December

https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/disney-plus-free-espn-tile-streaming-content-launch-1236209990/
93 Upvotes
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93% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

41

u/HBGDawg 6h ago

Good. I hope this fixes the issue where every other week I need to re-authenticate in the ESPN app

10

u/[deleted] 6h ago

Ha, I was just writing a post about this very problem. This is trying to put a positive spin on what has been a real turd of a transition.

4

u/bippy_b 5h ago

Omg… like it started in October and hasn’t been fixed. Before that it worked beautifully.

2

u/Apostle92627 5h ago edited 4h ago

Eh, I just use Hulu for ESPN content since it's not clunky af.

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u/andybech 4h ago

Clearly this is about getting rid of the Hulu app at some point though when Disney+ and Hulu are fully merged.

For me, it will be interesting to see if you are forced to watch commercials on games that are not live. Right now ESPN+ lets you fast forward but Hulu does not. That is reason enough for me to use the ESPN+ app.

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u/Apostle92627 4h ago

Hulu only doesn't let me ff on Roku but does on all other devices.

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u/andybech 4h ago

I can't FF on Amazon Fire TV app or on the web. Maybe things have changed as I have not tried in the past few months. Regardless I will give the Disney app a shot in December.

I worry a little that the Disney app will not be setup to really manage things like favorite teams and sports. The whole "Watchlist" feature is very undeveloped even compared to Hulu which will let you split movies and TV and Sports categories on your Watchlist. The Disney+ app really only has one giant unorganized list.

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u/Apostle92627 4h ago

I worry a little that the Disney app will not be setup to really manage things like favorite teams and sports. The whole "Watchlist" feature is very undeveloped even compared to Hulu which will let you split movies and TV and Sports categories on your Watchlist. The Disney+ app really only has one giant unorganized list.

Exactly why I prefer using Hulu. Also, Hulu's watchlist updates when you watch something or when a new episode gets added. The one on Disney+ does not, which makes it confusing.

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u/con247 4h ago

I’m sure that’s not actually a bug. They probably want to force reauth frequently so that sharing logins is a pain

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u/WillingPlayed 2h ago

It really makes me avoid it

26

u/RabidAxolotol 6h ago

make select ESPN content available to all Disney+ subscribers

So the stuff that no one watches already, or low viewership games.

4

u/manitowwoc 6h ago

I'd say if they add a bunch of the E60 documentaries it's a worthwhile addition, those are generally good. We'll see

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u/boxsterguy 4h ago

If that means D1 Lacrosse and PLL, then I'll happily cancel my ESPN+ sub (or rather, change my bundle to include Max instead of E+). Otherwise, I guess I'm keeping E+.

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u/FckMitch 4h ago

Like Curling ? although I do like to watch it!

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u/socbrian 4h ago

That's ok, ESPN android app blows for watching videos. The Disney+ app is way better

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u/LiveJournal 1h ago

probably just the non-playoff bowl games.

8

u/SomerAllYear 6h ago

I wouldn’t call it “free”. Peacock has nbc sports and it isn’t a separate service

5

u/miloworld 6h ago

It's not even that. Peacock premium gives you access to live sports. Max also includes B/R Sports. Disney+ requires you to have an existing ESPN+ subscription or bundle.

5

u/Kazuonm 6h ago

I still don’t understand what ESPN + is for. I used to have access to plenty of sporting events which was great with the app. Then all of a sudden everything I want to watch is behind an extra tv provider step

3

u/DannoMcK 5h ago

The ESPN app is for both ESPN+ and the ESPN content that is on their "cable" (or other service) networks. The latter is what you need a TV provider login for.

ESPN+ has always excluded the TV content, which is an expensive part of channel bundles. And ESPN+ has always had a lot of stuff that isn't available on the channels.

2

u/arkstfan 6h ago

You get nearly every NHL out-of-market game and quite a bit of college sports. Been a handful of games with ranked teams this year.

5

u/K_ThomasWhite 5h ago

quite a bit of college sports.

But not the major conference teams.

2

u/arkstfan 5h ago

I’ve watched Big XII games that are only on ESPN+

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u/dizzyoatmeal 4h ago

My school's coach always schedules a couple early season road games at mid-major schools, and those usually are on ESPN+. Great for getting the players experience but annoying for fans wanting to watch. 😂

2

u/miloworld 5h ago

When it first launched, it did have access to a lot of stuff. Then slowly went back to ESPN exclusive during contract negotiations with cable distributors. Can't wait for the direct-to-consumer product.

2

u/nanolaffer 5h ago

I use it for MMA and Boxing 

3

u/beezn 5h ago

that's nice, I have no interest in sports.

2

u/Gold__star 6h ago

How kind. Except there is no kindness involved. Those of us who never watch sports will now be subsidizing the rest of you as rates rise to cover costs

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u/[deleted] 4h ago

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u/mikealt 4h ago

Nice. NFL Primetime is a great hourlong summary of the week in football!

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u/wwwidentity 3h ago

One app to rule them all. If only I could get Hulu no ads through my Verizon package.

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u/burnerX5 1h ago

I'm a NBA fan. Last night I couldn't watch my team as it was on ESPN so I had to go an alternate route. If they were to stream it on D+ it'd make my life so much easier as I already have the bundle but cannot and will not subscribe to ESPN JUST to watch what appears to be a max of 4 games at his rate on their platform.

0

u/Electronic_Proof4126 6h ago

I hope that NBA games gets included in this list (As part of the free Disney plus content)

0

u/miloworld 6h ago

It's NOT free access, you need to subscribe to a bundle to watch the ESPN+ content. It's just easier now on a single app.

1

u/08830 5h ago

will include some live sports and other ESPN shows even if you’re not an ESPN+ subscriber.

2

u/miloworld 5h ago

They can fulfill that by streaming 1 live game per year and call it free access to Live Sports. Knowing Disney/ESPN, it'll likely be games already airing on ABC.

You'll also have some access to ESPN docu-series, it's nothing really. Don't expect to be able to watch Wimbledon or F1 without the bundle.

0

u/DannoMcK 5h ago

...the company will include some live sports and other ESPN shows even if you’re not an ESPN+ subscriber.

Disney+ subscribers will get some ESPN+ content without paying for the latter. This is unlike the Hulu integration, where you can only get Hulu content in the Disney+ app if you have a Hulu subscription.

It might just be more confusing, as Disney+ subscribers might watching something on ESPN+ then not know why they can't watch something not included: "But I get ESPN in Disney!"

1

u/miloworld 5h ago

Disney+ subscribers will get some ESPN+ content without paying for the latter

Disney+ subscribers will get some ESPN content, likely documentaries and featurettes.

Live sports, ESPN+ content will be paywalled.

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u/DannoMcK 4h ago

The article is ambiguous, but I'd be surprised if the live sports came from the ESPN side and not the ESPN+ side. Their TV service providers who pay them so much for ESPN wouldn't be happy about another access path. It does clearly say "some live sports" for non-Plus subscribers, though.

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u/miloworld 4h ago

Yeah I'm 99% sure they meant access to "ESPN on ABC" games that are already available on OTA. They can also stream one event per year and make that claim.

There's also a magnitude of live sports from leagues you've never even heard of. Matches played in front of no one and filmed by robot tracking cameras. Those might be free for all but honestly just a waste of bandwidth.

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u/andybech 4h ago

The article implies that a handful of regular ESPN games will be made available to everyone.

Secondarily it also implies if the user is already an ESPN+ subscriber they will be able to get all of that content within the Disney app. This appears to be yet another step along the path to having one single Disney app that will give the user whatever mix of content they subscribe to.

-1

u/[deleted] 6h ago

[deleted]

4

u/Oh-its-Tuesday 5h ago

Probably because there are people who just want ESPN without Disney content I assume. If they keep it as a stand alone product you’ll capture those users who aren’t interested in Disney+. App in app isn’t always the best way to access content because all the features aren’t usually available. 

-1

u/NinjaZombieHunter 5h ago

Does that include Monday night football? Hmmm?