Latest news with #ESPNDTC
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WWE Consumer Pricing In 2026 Is Way Less Expensive Than You Think
WWE announced a five-year deal to air on ESPN DTC. But as WWE's already plum bank account continues to grow, some fans are worried about their own finances when it comes to viewing WWE content in 2026. Of course, WWE and ESPN's joint announcement was accompanied by social media uproar as many fans misinterpreted the cost of WWE PLEs once the promotion moves to ESPN DTC. How Much Will WWE Content Cost On ESPN DTC? 'In addition to ESPN DTC subscribers, fans that access ESPN through a traditional pay TV provider, e.g. Comcast, DirectTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, will also have access to the new features through the enhanced ESPN App,' read an ESPN DTC fact sheet. The Total Cost of Watching WWE In 2026 Since the launch of WWE Network in 2014, WWE fans have become accustomed to paying $9.99 for PLEs. When WWE signed with Peacock, that price reduced to $4.99 per month before increasing to $7.99. The idea of having to pay an extra $29.99—a price point that will not apply to many viewers of ESPN DTC—sent some fans into a frenzy. In reality, the total monthly price of watching WWE programming is less than a WWE pay-per-view prior to April of 2014. It is also less than watching an AEW pay-per-view, which is typically priced at $49.99 or $7 per hour.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
ESPN streaming service: Everything to know from cost to offerings
Breaking News: WWE Premium Live Events are headed to @espn platforms in the U.S. starting in 2026 ESPN made a huge announcement Wednesday morning: They're bringing their standalone streaming service to customers starting on Thursday, August 21. This is huge news for the Worldwide Leader and fans who unbundle from cable services. If you want all of ESPN's offerings in one place, they've got it in one place, which ESPN is calling "ESPN DTC" at the moment per their release. So what's this all about? What are the details and pricing? Let's dive in and go over all the facts you need to know about this new product the network is rolling out later this month (note that it isn't the Venu product that was broken up earlier this year): What is the ESPN streaming service? ESPN DTC -- "direct-to-consumer" is all of ESPN's "networks and services" that you can use if you subscribe. How much does the ESPN streaming service cost? There are two plans: One for $29.99 a month, and then there's an offer that will include Disney+ and Hulu including (that's for $29.99 when the app launches). What do you get in the ESPN streaming service? It's unlimited, and it's both live and on-demand when it comes to its shows and sports. You can also access their documentaries and such. Is that what the ESPN WWE announcement was all about? It'll be part of the ESPN DTC offerings.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
ESPN to stream WWE major events including WrestleMania as part of new deal from 2026
WWE and ESPN reached an agreement that will include WrestleMania in ESPN's new direct-to-consumer streaming service from 2026. Hailing WWE, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro issued a statement, saying: 'WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform.'(Screengrab - Netflix) The agreement, which was revealed on Wednesday, covers two-night events like SummerSlam and WrestleMania in addition to other WWE premium live events like Money in the Bank, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble. Hailing WWE, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro issued a statement, saying: 'WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform.' 'This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.'
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
ESPN's Direct-to-Consumer Service and Enhanced App Launching August 21
BRISTOL, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESPN will launch its new previously announced direct-to-consumer streaming service on Thursday, August 21, bringing the full suite of ESPN networks and services – within an enhanced ESPN App with new, personalized features and functionality – directly to fans. Timed for a marquee stretch of live sports programming across ESPN platforms, the launch of ESPN DTC coincides with the start of the college football and NFL seasons, US Open tennis, international soccer, women's college soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and more – with the start of the WNBA playoffs, PLL playoffs, and NBA and NHL seasons, as well as UFC and WWE events just around the corner. Designed to give fans more choice and flexibility, ESPN DTC will offer two plans, including an unlimited plan for $29.99/month that gives fans access to all of ESPN's linear networks – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes – in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX, covering 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, studio shows, original programming, and more. Bundling opportunities for the ESPN unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu include a special offer at launch for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. All subscribers to ESPN's unlimited plan – either through ESPN DTC or a traditional Pay TV provider – will have live and on-demand access to all of ESPN's leading studio shows – including SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, The Pat McAfee Show, Pardon the Interruption, College GameDay, NBA Today, Inside the NBA, The Rich Eisen Show, and more – plus a robust, on-demand library featuring 30 for 30 films, ESPN Originals, replays, and more. The enhanced ESPN App will introduce a more personalized, dynamic viewing experience for fans. New features will include updated multiview options, integrated game stats, betting information, fantasy sports and commerce, along with a personalized SC For You. For more details, including subscription pricing, bundle options and more, visit
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
ESPN, WWE Reach Landmark Rights Agreement as ESPN Platforms Become Exclusive U.S. Domestic Home of All WWE Premium Live Events, Including WrestleMania, Starting in 2026
BRISTOL, Conn. & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), and WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), today announced a landmark rights agreement as ESPN platforms, including the new ESPN direct-to-consumer streaming service, will become the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), including the two-night cultural phenomenon WrestleMania, starting in 2026. This deal makes ESPN home to the highest-profile WWE events of the year. The ESPN DTC service will stream all WWE PLEs annually, in their entirety, with select simulcasting on ESPN linear platforms. Marquee PLEs include WrestleMania and SummerSlam – both two-night events – and Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Money in the Bank, among others. WWE will continue to produce all PLEs. Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN: 'WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most-significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.' Mark Shapiro, President and Chief Operating Officer, TKO: 'We are proud to reinforce the 'E' in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can't-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.' Nick Khan, President, WWE: 'WWE's agreement with ESPN is a pivotal moment for our millions of fans across the United States: the leader in sports entertainment partnering with the biggest brand in sports media. Bringing WWE's flagship events to ESPN's platform is tremendously exciting. We know the sky is the limit.' ESPN platforms, including its DTC service, will have the opportunity to stream WWE's pre- and post-event shows tied to all Premium Live Events. All of ESPN. All in One Place. Coming Soon. For the first time ever, ESPN will offer its full suite of networks and services directly to fans, along with an enhanced ESPN App that integrates game stats, betting information, fantasy sports, commerce, multiview options and a personalized SportsCenter For You. Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, these new features and functionality will be available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package. For more visit the ESPN DTC Press Kit. About WWE WWE® is the global leader in sports entertainment. The company creates and delivers original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE's TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, The CW and Netflix. In the United States, NBCUniversal's streaming service, Peacock, is currently the exclusive home to all premium live events, a variety of original programming and a massive video-on-demand library. Netflix is the exclusive home for WWE programming around the world, other than select international markets. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Assets for Media: Forward-Looking Statements TKO This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. TKO and WWE intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including the expected benefits from the agreement between WWE and ESPN. The words 'believe,' 'may,' 'will,' 'estimate,' 'potential,' 'continue,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'expect,' 'could,' 'would,' 'project,' 'plan,' 'target,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from what is expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to those factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A 'Risk Factors' in TKO's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as any such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at and TKO's Investor Relations site at Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as may be required under applicable law, TKO and WWE undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Walt Disney Company The terms 'Company,' 'we,' and 'our' below are used to refer collectively to The Walt Disney Company and the subsidiaries through which our various businesses are actually conducted. Certain statements on this press release may constitute 'forward‐looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, financial prospects or outlook; business plans and opportunities; content and benefits of future offerings; consumer sentiment and acceptance; and other statements that are not historical in nature. Any information that is not historical in nature is subject to change. These statements are made on the basis of management's views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Management does not undertake any obligation to update these statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company or the discovery of additional information, as well as from developments beyond the Company's control consumer preferences and product acceptance. Additional factors are set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
