ESPN’s Streaming Service to Come with Enhanced Betting Tie-Ins

by Blake Roberts, May 21, 2025

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro announced that the company’s new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service would be launched in the fall along with enhanced betting tie-ins.

Breaking into the Streaming Arena

According to the latest news released by the company’s Press Room, the ESPN DTC streaming service will become available to the public in the fall of 2025. There will be two subscription plans for users to choose from. The select plan, priced at $11.99 for a monthly subscription and $119.99 for an annual subscription, will feature access to all ESPN+ content.

The unlimited plan, priced at $29.99 for a monthly subscription and $299.99 for an annual subscription, will feature access to the entire suite of ESPN networks and content. There are also a couple more options, including bundles with other streaming services such as Disney+ and Hulu. The ESPN app is expected to offer various personalization and customization options.

Enhanced Betting Tie-Ins – A Game-Changer for Fans

The sports broadcasting network is planning to incorporate enhanced betting tie-ins into its new streaming service. This is great news for sports betting enthusiasts and also for PENN Entertainment, who are not pleased with the performance of the ESPN sportsbook app which they own the rights for.

In fact, the latest reports from March 2025 showed that ESPN Bet holds just 3.2% of the market share, falling far behind market leaders like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. That said, the enhanced betting tie-ins won’t be the only improvement, but more news will follow in the months ahead. As stated by Pitaro, ESPN is in for “probably the biggest transition in our history”.

Earlier Watch-and-Bet Integration

The November 2024 watch-and-bet integration was another milestone allowing users to link their ESPN and ESPN Bet accounts. It gave them an opportunity to watch their favorite sporting events and easily switch to betting if necessary. The integration led to an increase in the time customers spent on ESPN Bet, as well as an increase in bet frequency and a higher parlay mix.

That said, the watch-and-bet feature will be leveraged by the new ESPN app to its full potential. It’s obvious that in addition to trying to keep its existing clients satisfied, the company also actively looks to appeal to the new generation of digital-first users who are after more interactive and personalized experiences.

As the countdown to the launch of the DTC streaming service continues, we’re looking forward to more updates being announced in the following months. Similar to PENN Entertainment and ESPN, we see massive potential for their partnership. We’ll keep track of the progress and let you know if there are any significant developments.