In an effort to keep improving Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment and ESPN have rolled out some improvements to the ESPN+ service indicating that it is part of their efforts to constantly be improving the offering.
What They Are Saying:
- Michael Paull, President, Disney Streaming Services: “One of the most important focuses for ESPN+ has been innovating the experience for fans and making it easier for them to discover, subscribe and watch the great content. With more than a million subscribers and growing, our recent updates bring fans a more personalized experience with advanced content recommendations and make the service more accessible with offline viewing in the mobile app and availability on new devices, including Samsung and Oculus.”
- Jarrod Schwarz, Vice President, Product and Design, DTCI: “Our focus is always on creating user experiences that are smart, personal, intuitive and scalable. The ESPN app is the digital home of sports, and ESPN+ is already the leader in direct-to-consumer sports streaming. But for us, there is a responsibility never to stop improving them. We aim to drive the industry forward, evolve with user expectations and ensure our products are where sports fans expect them to be.”
The enhancements include:
- Personalized Content Recommendations: ESPN+ will offer programming recommendations unique to each subscriber. Initially, ESPN+ content recommendations highlight video-on-demand programming—helping fans discover more of the catalog of original, studio and library content available. Recommendations will continuously be refined and improved and will soon expand to live and upcoming events, helping ensure fans never miss the events and shows that they want to see.
- Dedicated ESPN+ Navigation Icon on ESPN+ App: Under a new E+ icon within the app’s main navigation, fans get direct access to ESPN+ programming in a dedicated home.
- Offline Viewing: Subscribers to ESPN+ can now watch a number of their favorite ESPN+ original shows, series and documentaries wherever they are, connected or not. With offline viewing, ESPN+ subscribers can take programming such as Detail with Kobe Bryant, Quest for The Stanley Cup, NBA: Year One and 30 for 30 documentaries with them.
- New UFC FightCenter: An all-new UFC FightCenter, featuring fight cards for every fight from UFC events, fighter profile cards for each fighter, live-updating fight statistics (strikes – by significance and region, time in control, takedowns and more), including dynamic animations of damage absorbed, is now available on mobile app and ESPN.com. For subscribers, FightCenter also includes direct access to live-streaming coverage.
- Samsung Smart TVs: Sports fans can now subscribe to ESPN+ directly through an updated ESPN app.
- Watch in VR on Oculus Go: The ESPN app recently launched on Oculus Go, the first all-in-one VR headset from Oculus. ESPN on Oculus Go gives fans new ways to experience all the live and on-demand sports video they get from ESPN and ESPN+. Available in the Oculus Store, the ESPN app is built on the same core as the Android TV app and lets fans stream ESPN+ programming, and ESPN’s “TV Everywhere” content, in a distraction-free Oculus Go virtual viewing lounge—complete with 180-inch virtual screen.