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Does ESPN+ add value to the Hulu-Disney+ bundle?

By Jacob Zinkula

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The new Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ bundle launches November 12th. Does the “third wheel” in ESPN+ make the bundle more appealing?

As the streaming war continues to heat up, consumers will have to start making tough choices about what subscriptions are worth it. The new Hulu- Disney+-ESPN+ bundle (launches Nov. 12) will provide such a choice.

Plenty of attention has been given to Disney+ and the variety of content it is expected to churn out. For some, the combination of Hulu and Disney+ alone makes the $13 per month bundle a no-brainer.

But for those that are more on the fence, it’s worth considering whether ESPN+ could be the difference-maker. Individually, ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) are $5, $7 and $6 per month respectively. In this sense, the bundle provides $18 per month of cumulative value for $13.

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But again, what value does ESPN+ provide? The platform is constantly evolving and includes a hodgepodge of content, but here’s an attempt at a summary.

What can one watch on ESPN+?

ESPN+ offers live games from MLB, MLS, Serie A, FA Cup, EFL, and NHL. One can also find Live UFC Fight Nights, 30+ Top Rank Boxing cards, Grand Slam tennis from Wimbledon, US Open and the Australian Open tennis, and college sports like football, basketball, lacrosse, and more.

The platform doesn’t offer ALL games for a particular sport like NBA League Pass does with the NBA for example. It does, however, provide games that one wouldn’t be able to find on an ESPN or ESPN2. It’s also worth noting that an ESPN+ subscription doesn’t provide access to these cable channels (TV subscription required).

ESPN+ also offers ESPN originals like 30 for 30, E:60 and O.J.: Made in America and provides exclusive access to new shows like Detail with Peyton Manning and LeBron James’ More Than An Athlete. Subscribers also get access to exclusive articles on ESPN.com.

Other relevant information

-The ESPN+ app can be used on most platforms: Android smartphones, Android TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Smart TVs, Fire/Kindle tablets, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Roku, Oculus Go, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Samsung Smart TV.

-Subscribers can cancel their ESPN+ subscription at any time.

-Only US viewers can currently access the platform (no international plans yet).

-Video is streamed at up to 60 frames per second (apparently that’s good).

-ESPN+ offers a 7-day free trial for those that want to check it out.

Conclusion

For those not really into sports, ESPN+ likely shouldn’t move the needle when it comes to the “bundle decision.” For casual sports fans, it depends on whether the platform covers your sports of interest. For big UFC and MLS fans for example, it is pretty valuable.

For big sports fans that care most about “mainstream” sports like football, basketball, and baseball, the decision is tricky (I’m in this bucket). Thus far, there have only been a few instances when I’ve really wished I could watch an ESPN+ event. Most of what I’ve cared about could be found on ESPN’s cable channels. A few of the platform’s original shows have had some appeal to me, but again, I haven’t felt like I’m missing too much.

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Personally, the main attraction of ESPN+ is the access to the subscriber-only articles on ESPN.com. The site seems to have gradually increased the prevalence of this content, and on several occasions, I’ve found myself wishing I had access.

As things currently stand, I think sports fans can get by rather comfortably without ESPN+ (not including big fans of UFC, MLS, etc.). As the platform grows in content, however, I think many sports fanatics will eventually deem it a “necessity.” For sports fans that are on the fence about the bundle, it might just make sense to just dive in now.

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