ESPN says its direct-to-consumer streaming service will debut in September at $29.99 a month

Core Insights - ESPN is launching a new streaming service named ESPN in September at an initial price of $29.99 per month, marking a significant moment in the company's history and the industry's shift from television to streaming [1][3]. Service Features - The new service will provide access to all ESPN networks, including those focused on college leagues like SEC, Big 10, and ACC, and will integrate content from the existing ESPN+ service [2]. - Enhancements to the ESPN app will include AI-driven personalized "SportsCenter" features tailored to users' favorite teams and athletes [2]. - All live events from ESPN networks and ABC-TV will be available through the streaming service, along with popular programming such as "SportsCenter" and "First Take" [4][5]. Pricing and Bundling - The annual subscription for the streaming service will be $299.99, with a bundling option available for ESPN, Hulu, and Disney+ at $35.99 per month, or $29.99 per month for the first year [6]. - A more limited version of programming will still be available on ESPN+ for $11.99 per month, but no lower-cost alternatives will be offered to avoid consumer confusion [8]. Future Plans - ESPN is open to potential acquisitions or partnerships to enhance its programming, including the possibility of acquiring struggling regional sports networks [9].