Latest news with #WWEPremiumLiveEvents
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
ESPN and Fox's new streaming bundle could replace your cable — for half the price
Remember Venu Sports? The potential cable-killing sports streaming service that was supposed to combine all the sports offerings from Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery? It died earlier this year, but now, it looks like two of those companies are teaming up for a streaming services bundle that might actually replace your cable or live TV streaming services. ESPN (owned by Disney) and Fox announced yesterday (August 11) that they would be bundling their two new streaming services together at one low price. For $39.99, you'd get the ESPN streaming service, set to launch on Aug. 21, and Fox One streaming service, set to launch on — you guessed it — Aug. 21. Separately, these streaming services cost $29.99 and $19.99 a month, respectively, so you'd be saving $10 a month versus subscribing to each a la carte. But more importantly, you'd only be paying $40 for a lot of channels. Here's everything you get for ESPN unlimited, the premium tier of ESPN's new streaming service: On top of all those networks, ESPN will also be adding WWE Premium Live Events to the platform next year and just agreed to acquire NFL Network, which is tipped to be added to ESPN at no cost once that deal is finalized. Fox One, meanwhile, offers just one tier, though it does offer separate bundles and add-ons from this newly announced ESPN bundle. Here's what you get from Fox One: I've long though a live streaming service bundle at the right price could dethrone Netflix and cable and it looks like this bundle could come as close as anyone ever has. If you're a sports fan, there's a real chance that this package would give you everything you need, and even for the average view, there's a ton of news, sports and entertainment in these combined services. That said, it's not quite perfect. We don't know how NFL RedZone fits into all of this, and based on the ESPN's deal with the NFL, RedZone is likely only to be offered as a premium add-on to ESPN, rather than included in the streaming service. It's also missing a Disney streaming service that would have taken this bundle to another level, appealing to a much broader audience. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Sports fans — snag this streaming bundle to add both Disney Plus and Hulu to all the live sports ESPN Plus has to offer. For some reason, Disney Plus and Hulu (which will cease to be a standalone app and become a tile in the Disney Plus app starting next year) are missing from this bundle. It's beyond frustrating, because you can add Disney Plus and Hulu for $5 to ESPN, but you can't add it to this bundle with Fox One. This feels like a head-scratching misstep by Disney, but if they're leaving Disney Plus out of this bundle, they must have landed on some internal reason that this is best to reach the broadest subscriber base. Either that, or there's some legal reason they can't through in Disney Plus and Hulu. But given that you can currently bundle both services with Max, that seems unlikely to be the cause. Maybe Disney will see the error of their ways and for $45 offer a bundle that includes ESPN, Disney Plus, Hulu and Fox One, which would rival any live TV streaming service in terms of value and have a lot of people replacing their cable package. But until then, this bundle is impressive, but not quite perfect. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
Business Wire
06-08-2025
- 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.
