American Express Named ESPN+ Launch Sponsor, Extended Free Trial Announced

Today, ESPN announced that American Express will become the official launch sponsor of ESPN+ — the new sports streaming subscription service debuting April 12th. As part of the partnership, ESPN+ and AmEx will offer cardholders and non-cardholders alike a 30-day free trial subscription of ESPN+ during its launch week (April 12th through the 18th). This is an extended trial as the standard free period for the service will be seven days. Additionally, American Express will be a presenting sponsor of the 30 for 30 documentary library that will be a feature of the ESPN+ service. Finally, aside from the ESPN+ sponsorship, American Express will also take part in a special episode of ESPN’s SportsCenter dubbed SportsCenter All-Access. During tonight’s broadcast, Instead of running commercials during the breaks, SportsCenter All-Access backed by American Express will give fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at the program.

“It is fitting to have a renowned brand like American Express on board as the official launch sponsor for a renowned moment in our company’s history,” said Ed Erhardt, President, ESPN Global Sales and Marketing. “Disney and ESPN continue to lead the industry in delivering innovative ad experiences and solutions for advertisers, and with ESPN+, we now have more opportunities to reach fans in new and engaging ways.”

“We understand that the way people live, work, and consume content today is changing and increasingly on-demand and we’re thrilled to be the official launch sponsor of ESPN+,”  said Jill Hamilton, Vice President, US Media, American Express. “We know our consumers are always on the go — whether for business travel or in their personal lives – and ESPN+ allows a seamless way to still enjoy the live sports events and programming that they love.”

ESPN+ is set to launch April 12th.