New ESPN App Launch: Stream Every Game, Instant Scores & Personalized Updates

ESPN has flipped the switch on a fully rebuilt ESPN app that folds its long-awaited direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service into one personalized sports hub, promising to deliver “all of ESPN, all in one place” just in time for the busiest stretch of the sports calendar. The revamped platform, live as of 21 August, replaces the legacy WatchESPN interface and serves as the front door for both cable subscribers and cord-cutters looking to stream 47,000 live events a year across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ and even ESPN on ABC without a traditional TV package. Key takeaways • Two subscription options. The headline “Unlimited Plan” costs $29.99 per month and unlocks every linear channel plus ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX. A slimmer plan aimed at casual fans will debut later this fall, though pricing has not been announced. Early adopters can bundle the Unlimited tier with Disney+ and Hulu for the same $29.99 promo price during the first 12 months. • Live sports without cable. NFL Monday Night Football, NBA, MLB, college football Saturdays, UFC, Formula 1, PGA Tour, Grand Slam tennis and every studio show from SportsCenter to Pat McAfee stream directly inside the app. ESPN executives say the timing was designed to capture viewers as college football Week 0, the U.S. Open and UEFA Champions League group stages begin. • New mobile-first design. Borrowing familiar vertical video swipes from TikTok and Instagram, “Verts” delivers bite-sized highlights curated by a machine-learning engine that studies your favorite teams, fantasy rosters and even recent search history. A persistent score bug lets users tap for real-time stats or hop between games without exiting the stream. • Multiview everywhere. Fans can stack up to four simultaneous live feeds on phones, tablets, smart TVs and web browsers—no Apple TV required. A picture-in-picture bet slip powered by the ESPN BET partnership overlays live odds that update every 10 seconds for in-play wagering. • Fantasy and commerce integration. Connect an ESPN Fantasy lineup to see matchup projections update alongside live snaps, or buy the jersey a player just wore with one click through Fanatics. Why it matters Disney CEO Bob Iger has called the stand-alone ESPN offering the company’s “single biggest product launch of 2025,” positioning it as both a hedge against cord-cutting and a springboard for future interactive sports experiences. Analysts at MoffettNathanson estimate the new ESPN app could attract five million subs in year one, roughly matching ESPN+’s entire 2020 base but at a revenue rate five times higher. For existing pay-TV households, nothing changes: signing in with a cable or satellite provider still unlocks authenticated streams. But the DTC tier means 54 million U.S. homes that no longer take a bundle can now get live ESPN—albeit at a higher monthly cost than Max’s Bleacher Report sports add-on or NBC’s Peacock Premium. What devices are supported? Day-one platforms include iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV/Google TV, Xbox, PlayStation, and most 2019-newer Samsung and LG smart TVs. A native visionOS build for Apple Vision Pro is in development for 2026. How to download or upgrade 1. iPhone/iPad: open the App Store, search “ESPN,” and tap Update. 2. Android: same process via Google Play. 3. Connected TV: update automatically through your device’s app store; look for the red “E” icon. 4. Web: visit ESPN.com, where the new UI mirrors the app and supports 4K HDR on compatible monitors. Upcoming content highlights • Saturday, Aug 23 – College Football Week 0: Florida State vs. Georgia Tech (Dublin) • Monday, Aug 25 – Yankees vs. Red Sox “Kay-Rod Cast” with multiview player-tracker angles • Aug 26 – Serena Williams’ final U.S. Open run begins on Arthur Ashe Stadium feed in 4K HDR • Sept – NFL Monday Night Football with alternate ManningCast in one multiview pane Early reviews from beta testers at The Athletic praise the cleaner navigation and near-instant channel changes, calling it “the most complete sports interface on a phone today”. Bottom line The new ESPN app isn’t just a cosmetic refresh—it’s Disney’s opening gambit in the high-stakes race to bring the entire cable bundle online. With flexible pricing, multiview, live betting and deep personalization, the Worldwide Leader is betting that die-hard sports fans will pay a premium for a one-stop stream that finally feels native to 2025.