Heavyweight sports broadcaster ESPN has snapped up exclusive rights in the US to all premium live events organized by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) promotion, while also announcing details around its new direct-to-consumer streaming service.
The new platform, simply called ESPN, will go live on August 21, bringing the full bundle of Disney-owned ESPN networks and content.
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ESPN DTC will offer two price plans to fans – one unlimited plan for $29.99 per month, which will give fans access to all ESPN linear channels, as well as ESPN via ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX. In total, ESPN has said this option will bring 47,000 live events to fans each year.
This unlimited plan can also be bundled with the Hulu and Disney+ streaming services for $29.99 (for the first 12 months).
The new DTC service is being launched to coincide with the start of the NFL and college football (American football) seasons, as well as the US Open grand slam tennis tournament.
ESPN has also said that its new-look mobile app "will introduce a more personalized, dynamic viewing experience for fans," with new features such as multiview options, integrated game stats, betting information, and fantasy sports.
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By GlobalDataThe new ESPN DTC was first announced formally earlier this year, with company chair Jimmy Pitaro saying at that time: "Our straightforward approach to name and pricing will help fans cut through the clutter, and provide them compelling options to access all our content within the enhanced ESPN App.”
The ESPN-WWE deal, meanwhile, begins in 2026 and entails the range of ESPN platforms, including its DTC offering, becoming the domestic home of the highest-profile WWE events.
That list includes the iconic two-day WrestleMania event.
The deal – reportedly worth $1.6 billion and running for five years – was unveiled by ESPN and TKO – the company behind WWE – earlier today.
All premium live events – which will continue to be internally produced by WWE itself – will be streamed in their entirety by ESPN DTC, "with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms.
Aside from WrestleMania, events set to be covered by the tie-up include SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank.
Aside from these live events themselves, ESPN will also be able to live-stream all pre- and post-event shows attached to them.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) promotion, also owned by TKO, has had a deal in place with ESPN+ in the US since the start of 2019.
Mark Shapiro, TKO's president and chief operating officer, has stated: "Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.”
In terms of WWE's other broadcast coverage, its flagship ‘Monday Night Raw’ show is covered globally by content and entertainment giant Netflix, through a deal that came into effect in January.
Elsewhere, ESPN will continue to broadcast the NFL Draft, the primary player selection process for the American football league, domestically.
That was announced earlier today, following on from the formal unveiling of a wider deal between the NFL and ESPN on Tuesday (which, among other aspects, involves the sports broadcaster acquiring NFL Network and other league media assets).
The draft has been covered live by ESPN since 1980, with next year's edition set to take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and to run for three days.
ESPN and ABC will both run their own telecasts of the first two days, before ABC simulcasts ESPN's coverage of the third day (Sunday).
The ESPN+ and Hulu services will also stream the draft, while the event will also continue to be shown by the NFL Network platform.
Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, has said: "ESPN has been a partner in that from day one, bringing the fans closer to that event and building that event into one of the most popular events on the sporting calendar, which is incredible if you think back a few decades. We know that relationship works, and we’re proud that ESPN is going to continue to be a partner.”
In addition, the NFL and ESPN have concluded a licensing deal, enabling greater interaction between the two parties in terms of content, interactive features, and legal sports betting information.
In terms of live NFL coverage, ESPN holds Monday Night Football rights through 2033.
