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ESPN yesterday announced plans to launch a streaming service and a redesigned app this spring.

The new ESPN Plus subscription service will cost $4.99 a month and launch alongside a redesigned ESPN app, which will be available on a variety of platforms, including iOS, Android, tvOS, Chromecast, with more to follow.

“The changes will be dramatic, with more compelling visuals, as well as an easy, intuitive interface and exceptional video and sound quality,” said Robert Iger, chairman of The Walt Disney Co. “Users will also enjoy an increasingly personalized experience as the app blends explicit choices with implicit behavior to curate a unique mix of specific, relevant content tailored to the taste of each individual user.”

During Disney’s Q1 2018 earnings call, Iger outlined three key features to what he described as a “one app approach.” The app will provide…
• Scores and highlights as well as podcasts and other sports information
• Access to live streams from all of ESPN's networks via “multi-channel packages”
• Access to the new ESPN Plus subscription service, which will offer a “greatly expanded array of programs and live events for sports fans who want even more content, as well as for fans interested in sports and events not currently featured on the main channels.”

The ESPN Plus subscription service will feature thousands of live events, according to Iger, “giving fans access to more leagues, more teams and more games than ever before, including Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the NHL, along with a rich array of college sports, as well as Grand Slam Tennis, Boxing, Golf, Rugby, and Cricket, that aren't available on the ESPN linear networks.”

The service will also provide access to the complete ESPN Films library as well as original content that will be produced exclusively for the platform.

The service will not include streaming of ESPN TV networks, which will still require a subscription to an existing service that offers those channels.

“We're very excited to bring this product to market, an opportunity created by our BAMTech acquisition,” Iger said. “We plan to invest further in the direct-to-consumer feature, adding more live games and produce sports programming, along with even greater personalization in the years ahead.”