 | |
Type of site | Sports broadcasting |
|---|---|
| Owner | ESPN Inc. |
| Revenue | unknown |
| URL | www |
| Launched | October 25, 2010 |
| Current status | Defunct (selected territories); functionality transferred to ESPN.com, ESPN app, ESPN+ and ESPN Player |
WatchESPN was a branding of the Internet television website and mobile application operated by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (which operates the network, through its 80% controlling ownership interest) and Hearst Corporation (which holds the remaining 20% interest).
The service provides streaming simulcasts of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, ACC Network, Longhorn Network, SEC Network, ESPN Goal Line and ESPN Buzzer Beater for select cable television subscribers in the United States; it also serves as the exclusive platform for broadcasts from ESPN3, which until 2011, had operated as a separate website with a similar functionality to WatchESPN. The service is only available to subscribers of participating cable, IPTV and satellite television providers, and was not offered as a standalone internet-only subscription service available to those who do not have a pay television subscription.
On July 1, 2019, ESPN officially discontinued the WatchESPN app and branding, redirecting users to the ESPN app (which had been updated in 2015 to add integrated streaming functionality) and ESPN.com streaming.[1]
Since the launch of the over-the-top companion service ESPN+ in 2018, ESPN has increasingly preferred paywalling new or renewed content acquisitions on that service instead of ESPN3. It is a standalone subscription product and does not require a separate television subscription.[2][3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
variety-shutdownwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Murschel, Matt (28 April 2019). "AAC leader Mike Aresco touts new media rights deal, addresses ESPN+ criticism". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
- ^ Theisen, Lauren. "ESPN's New $4.99-A-Month Service Is Taking Away Some Programming On ESPN3". Deadspin. Retrieved 2018-04-03.