New features have been added to the ESPN+ app to enhance the user experience for subscribers. Among the most notable updates include a more personalized viewing experience and the ability to view content through an Oculus Go VR headset.
Similar to Netflix’s recommended viewing feature, ESPN+ now lets users browse a “recommended for you” content space based on browsing history and preferences within ESPN. Currently the recommendation feature only includes original, studio, and library programming, but live and upcoming events will be added in a future update according to a press release from The Walt Disney Company.
“With more than a million subscribers and growing, our recent updates bring fans a more personalized experience with advanced content recommendations and make the service more accessible with offline viewing in the mobile app and availability on new devices, including Samsung and Oculus,” said Michael Paull, president of Disney Streaming Services, in the press release.
ESPN+ will now be accessible through Samsung Smart TVs and the service is now compatible with Oculus Go. Subscribers with an Oculus Go VR headset can watch ESPN+ in a “virtual viewing lounge” that displays content on a 180-inch virtual screen. ESPN+ has added several pieces of original programming can now be consumed without an internet connection, catering to offline viewing.
Additional features as part of the new update include a navigation icon for more efficient maneuverability within the app, as well as a UFC FightCenter. The FightCenter shows fight cards, fighter profiles, real-time match statistics, and provides direct access to UFC live-streaming coverage within the ESPN+ app.
SportTechie Takeaway
ESPN faces stiff competition in the sports streaming world from the likes of DAZN and B/R Live, as well as services from legacy media outlets such as NBC, CBS, and Fox. ESPN+ got off to a fast start with one million paid subscribers after five months of launch, but Disney will need to continue innovating its product given the wealth of competition within the space.