ESPN is hiking streaming prices for the first time since launching its new direct-to-consumer service last year.
According to the company’s support page, the cost of ESPN Select will increase to $13.99 per month/139.99 per year, up from $12.99 per month/129.99 per year. Meanwhile, ESPN Unlimited will charge $31.99 per month/$319.99 per year, up from $29.99 per month/$299.99 per year.
The changes, which take effect starting Sept. 17, will also impact ESPN Select’s bundles with Disney+ and Hulu, including:
- Disney Plus (with ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN Select: $21.99 / month, up from $19.99 / month.
- Disney Plus (ad-free), Hulu (ad-free), ESPN Select: $32.99 / month, up from $29.99.
- Legacy Disney Plus (ad-free), Hulu (ad-free), and ESPN Select: $27.99 / month, up from $24.99 / month.
ESPN’s Unlimited plan includes access to all ESPN networks and ESPN+, as well as studio shows like SportsCenter, First Take and College GameDay.
It also offers more than 47,000 live events, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, tennis and golf majors, WWE, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 football and basketball, as well as postseason coverage from the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB and college football.
Meanwhile, ESPN Select offers around 32,000 live events annually, but does not include access to the ESPN linear networks.
ESPN has also integrated programming from the NFL Network and CW Sports on the ESPN App and offers features such as multiview, the personalized “SportsCenter For You” and its Verts vertical video feed.
Disney does not break out the profits or losses of its ESPN streaming service nor how many people have subscribed to ESPN Unlimited. However, it recently noted that ESPN recorded its best month ever in June for digital and social engagement, reaching nearly 230 million unique fans and over 80% of the U.S. internet population.
In its second quarter, Disney’s sports segment saw subscription and affiliate fees increase 8% to $3.14 billion, with half of the growth coming from its NFL Network acquisition, while ad revenue grew 5% to $1.2 billion, due to higher impressions. The company sold out ad inventory for Super Bowl LXI as it closed its upfront negotiations for 2026.
Looking ahead, Disney plans to deliver a “more robust subset” of ESPN games to Disney+ subscribers starting this fall, anchored by additional college football simulcasts alongside “College GameDay,” as it looks to drive greater engagement on the service and help upsell subscribers to its trio bundle, which includes ESPN Unlimited.
