ESPN streaming plans are getting more expensive
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
ESPN is raising the price of its standalone streaming subscription from 17 September, a change that will also push up the cost of its bundles with Disney Plus and Hulu. It marks the first price increase since the direct-to-consumer service launched last August, and comes even as roughly four in five subscribers to its priciest tier reportedly signed up via the Disney bundle rather than buying ESPN alone.
The ad-supported ESPN Select plan rises from $12.99 to $13.99 a month ($139.99 to $129.99 annually reversed, i.e. up to $139.99 from $129.99 a year), while the Unlimited plan increases from $29.99 to $31.99 a month, or $299.99 to $319.99 annually. Bundles combining Disney Plus and Hulu with ESPN Select are also going up by $2–$3 a month depending on tier — for example, the ad-supported trio rises to $21.99 from $19.99, and the ad-free version to $32.99 from $29.99 — though any bundle including ESPN Unlimited remains unaffected.
- ESPN subscription and Disney Plus/Hulu bundle prices rise from 17 September
- First increase since ESPN's standalone streaming launch last August
- Bundles with ESPN Unlimited tier are not affected by the rise
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ESPN launched its own standalone streaming app in August 2025, letting fans subscribe directly rather than needing a separate pay-TV package. It offers two tiers, an ad-supported Select plan and a fuller-featured Unlimited plan, and can also be bought bundled with Disney's other streaming services, Disney Plus and Hulu.
ESPN, owned by Disney, is one of the biggest names in American sports broadcasting, and this direct-to-consumer service was a significant shift in how it reaches viewers, adding features like a personalised sports news feed and the ability to watch several events on screen at once. The move reflects a wider trend of media companies selling streaming subscriptions straight to customers as traditional cable TV audiences shrink.
Pricing is central to how well this new approach works, both for attracting subscribers and for covering the substantial cost of sports broadcasting rights. Most people who pay for ESPN's top-tier plan do so through the Disney bundle rather than buying it alone, which is relevant context for understanding how any price changes might affect subscribers differently depending on which option they use.
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