ESPN+ has surpassed one million paid subscribers five months after the sports network launched the direct-to-consumer media app.
The $4.99 monthly service, which features a range of live and taped events as well as original programming, is key to the network’s attempt to attract viewers who have increasingly turned to over-the-top services rather than traditionally more expensive cable packages.
“Reaching one million paid subscribers is an important milestone for any video subscription service, but reaching this benchmark in such a short amount of time is an incredible testament to the teams from DTCI and ESPN who have worked tirelessly to bring this product to market and continually improve it since our April launch,” said Kevin Mayer, chairman of direct-to-consumer and international products at The Walt Disney Company.
Mayer said the company plans to add more features, distribution partners and exclusive content in the coming months. The company already has access to a number of exclusive sports, including Italy’s Serie A soccer and Top Rank Boxing. In the first week of college football, it exclusively streamed 33 games.
“We’re thrilled so many sports fans have quickly come to love the service,” he said.
ESPN’s subscription numbers were higher than many analysts’ expectations, according to Sports Business Journal. ESPN+ has grown faster than other sports-based direct-to-consumer products, such as WWE Network, which took 11 months to surpass 1 million, according to SBJ.
An August decision by the company to transfer subscribers from its 20-year-old ESPN Insider service to ESPN+ likely contributed to the sharp rise in subs.
SportTechie Takeaway
Earlier this year, it seemed as though every major network were starting direct-to-consumer apps to try and mitigate losses seen in traditional pay-TV channels. While there has been a rush of new supply this year, with CBS launching a free app, Turner launching B/R Live and Hulu expanding its sports content, ESPN’s strong sub numbers bode well for a company that for years has identified as the No. 1 sports brand in the U.S. but nevertheless struggled, like many others, with the shift to digital.