By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow on X.
Former editor of 4 TV magazines. Author of TV Dot Com.

TV Answer Man, I am a little confused about the new sports streaming service with Fox and ESPN. Is ESPN still doing a streaming service for its channel, too? Or will the new Fox, ESPN, and Warner streaming service now replace that? — Sam, Boston.

Sam, I think you’re not the only one confused by this week’s announcement that Fox, Disney’s ESPN and Discovery Warner Bros. are planning to launch a sports streaming service this fall. The three companies said the new service, which would include the combined sports programming of ESPN, Fox, TNT and TBS, would be targeted to ‘passionate fans’ who are unlikely to subscribe to a traditional pay TV service. They did not reveal pricing yet, but several analysts, including yours truly, are betting it will be around $40 a month to start.

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So how does this new venture affect ESPN’s plan to launch a standalone streaming service for its channel? Disney has frequently teased the new service over the last few years. The standalone ESPN supposedly would include the entire network’s lineup, unlike the $10.99 a month ESPN+ which only includes select games and live shows.

Disney CEO Bob Iger yesterday reiterated that the standalone ESPN is still on schedule with a planned launch in the fall of 2025, perhaps even August 2025.

“We’ll launch it in probably August of ’25, is to bring out ESPN flagship, I say on its own, but it will be bundled ultimately with Hulu and Disney+,” Iger told financial analysts in a conference call following release of the company’s first quarter report. “And that will be a very, very immersive, very — obviously sports-centric app, which will have features that this combination with Fox and with Time Warner Discovery will not have, such as integrated betting, integrated fantasy, likely to have some sales arm or merchandise capabilities. Obviously, deep dive into stats and high degree of customization and personalization, again, another kind of feature that we’ll bring out to engage with sports fans. I can’t tell you right now how that ultimately will fit into all of this, except it will be a progression.”

Iger did not reveal pricing for the standalone ESPN, but this reporter estimates it will be around $25 a month to start.

Cord cutters will soon have more choices when it comes to sports, but it appears that you’re going to have pay premium prices to get them.

Sam, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!

Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.