Anyone going to sign up for the new ESPN app when it launches in the next 2 weeks?

[Pete Hogwallop]

I likely am. I usually sign up for YouTubeTV or SlingTV at the start of college football season and keep it through basketball season and then drop from April-August and only watch the sports I can get on my antenna.

For those that don't know, The service is going to cost $29.99 per month and it will have all ESPN programming, including live games. Including the stuff that's on ESPN+. That's all the ESPN live networks, the SEC Network, etc.

I wish there were a couple of other non-ESPN sports channels included, but I get CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox via antenna, so there will only be some regional sports channels I'll be missing.

Also, they just announced some big deal with the NFL for Redzone and other NFL content. I don't care all that much about the NFL, but that will add more value.

[Jaxcat]

I absolutely will do it. I've been a Sling subscriber for probably the last 10+ CFB seasons and rarely, if ever, watched any other channel on the service other than ESPN for CFB. I, too, normally cut it off around first of February as I care very little for NBA, MLB or CBB (at least not enough to spend $50/mo). Recently, I logged into Sling to see what changes they've made and discovered that the SECN is now no longer a part of the Orange package but must be purchased as an add-0n for an additional $11/mo, bringing my 'normal' subscription up to about $60/mo. Well, it's kinda a no-brainer to get the ESPN enhanced app for $30/mo (IIRC, the $30/mo also includes Disney+ and Hulu with no commercials, but I may be mistaken - it could be an additional $10 or so monthly). The only thing I don't know is if the enhanced app will have the ability to record games to watch (FF'ing thru commercials) in much less time than watching live.

But, I see no reason at all to purchase Sling, YouTube, Apple, et al at much higher prices than just the ESPN stations (along with Disney and Hulu). I am also able to get local networks over the air on a digital antenna so I don't really need anything else.

I just recently discovered that the Roku Channel includes T-2 (a Tennis Channel spinoff) and, being an avid tennis player, I've been watching some of that for free, also. The Tennis Channel is $10/mo but I most likely will not subscribe. Most of the Grand Slams are on ESPN and the more minor tourneys will be on T-2.

[Majoga]

I likely am. I usually sign up for YouTubeTV or SlingTV at the start of college football season and keep it through basketball season and then drop from April-August and only watch the sports I can get on my antenna.

Do you have a link with that info? I'm looking at ESPN app page right now. It's not really clear if it's the same thing you're talking about. Also, I need to know a few things. Like is there a desktop version etc. I'm not watching on a phone. I'd probably be down with it at that price though. Only other thing I can't get is ABC over the air here.

[drew_ukfan]

Nah, they’d have to pay me to listen to 99% of espn content

[Jaxcat]

Do you have a link with that info? I'm looking at ESPN app page right now. It's not really clear if it's the same thing you're talking about. Also, I need to know a few things. Like is there a desktop version etc. I'm not watching on a phone. I'd probably be down with it at that price though. Only other thing I can't get is ABC over the air here.

You should be able to add the app to your smart TV and/or computer and stream it. Sling worked that way.

I haven't seen all the details but it seems like a pretty easy decision for me.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Do you have a link with that info? I'm looking at ESPN app page right now. It's not really clear if it's the same thing you're talking about. Also, I need to know a few things. Like is there a desktop version etc. I'm not watching on a phone. I'd probably be down with it at that price though. Only other thing I can't get is ABC over the air here.

They announced it back in May that it would launch "this fall" and mentioned in the NFL Red Zone announcement yesterday that it would be launching in the next two weeks. I don't have a more specific link than that now.

[WeWant9]

I’m going to have to check this out. Like others, I’ve been a turn Sling on during football and off after March Madness guy. $30 is decent enough with the SECN, especially considering Sling has basically doubled in price since I started using it 9 years ago.

probably let it launch and see what people are saying before jumping in, but not a bad idea for those who just need the channels to watch sports.

[Pete Hogwallop]

I’m going to have to check this out. Like others, I’ve been a turn Sling on during football and off after March Madness guy. $30 is decent enough with the SECN, especially considering Sling has basically doubled in price since I started using it 9 years ago.

probably let it launch and see what people are saying before jumping in, but not a bad idea for those who just need the channels to watch sports.

It's going to be everything that ESPN offers including the ESPN+ sports. I'm assuming some sports on ABC will be on it as well. And they say for the first year it will be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ for that $30 fee.

I can get NBC, CBS and Fox via an antenna at my house so I don't need to stream locals.

[Pete Hogwallop]

They announced today that it will be launching on Aug. 21. I will likely be signing up on Aug. 22. First college game of the year is Aug. 23.

[Jaxcat]

I'm still not completely clear about the Disney+ and Hulu bundle. I've read that the ESPN Unlimited will include both of those, for the first 12 months, for $35.99 and I've also seen an article that indicated those two would be bundled, but at a much higher price than the extra $5. And, I don't know if that includes Hulu without commercials. It's only 3-4 shows a year that I watch Disney+, so missing out on it isn't a big deal. But, my wife and I watch things on Hulu pretty regularly, but will not do so if we have to sit thru commercials. From my research, I can become an 'Additional Member' on my son's Hulu account for $10/mo and, because their service is ad-free, ours would be, also. So, we have options. I just want to make sure I can watch all of the ESPN stations + ABC so I can see all the SEC games.

[Pete Hogwallop]

I'm still not completely clear about the Disney+ and Hulu bundle. I've read that the ESPN Unlimited will include both of those, for the first 12 months, for $35.99 and I've also seen an article that indicated those two would be bundled, but at a much higher price than the extra $5. And, I don't know if that includes Hulu without commercials. It's only 3-4 shows a year that I watch Disney+, so missing out on it isn't a big deal. But, my wife and I watch things on Hulu pretty regularly, but will not do so if we have to sit thru commercials. From my research, I can become an 'Additional Member' on my son's Hulu account for $10/mo and, because their service is ad-free, ours would be, also. So, we have options. I just want to make sure I can watch all of the ESPN stations + ABC so I can see all the SEC games.

They will be bundled with ESPN Unlimited the first 12 months at no additional charge. But it will be the Hulu with commercials. They have said that in their public releases of the last couple of weeks. Not that I care about Hulu or Disney+. I already get Hulu for $1 per month which has commercials, but I don't mind them for that price. Plus I have no intention of subscribing for a whole 12 months.

I'm more excited about all the ESPN+ content being included anyway.

[Pete Hogwallop]

You can now sign up here: https://www.espn.com/next

You just have to login with your ESPN account or create one and then choose the plan. I'll probably sign up tomorrow (Friday) since the first college football game is Saturday at noon on ESPN.