ESPN Hikes Streaming Prices: ESPN Select and Unlimited Get New Rates in the US

ESPN hikes streaming prices in the United States starting September 17, 2026, increasing the monthly cost of both its ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited direct-to-consumer plans. The price change comes as the sports network continues expanding its streaming-focused strategy and offering more live sports directly to consumers without requiring a traditional pay-TV subscription.

According to ESPN’s official customer support information, ESPN Select now costs $13.99 per month, while ESPN Unlimited is priced at $31.99 per month. Annual subscription prices are also listed at $139.99 for Select and $319.99 for Unlimited.

The new rates represent an increase from the earlier $13 monthly price for Select and $30 monthly price for Unlimited.

ESPN Select and Unlimited Prices Increase

The two ESPN plans are designed for different types of sports viewers.

ESPN Select is the lower-priced option and consists entirely of ESPN+ content. Subscribers can access thousands of live sporting events and programming covering sports such as soccer, golf, hockey, college sports and tennis, along with ESPN Originals and other on-demand content.

The new monthly price is $13.99, compared with the previous $13 rate.

ESPN Unlimited, meanwhile, provides a substantially broader package. It includes ESPN Select content as well as ESPN’s network programming and services, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC and other ESPN services.

The Unlimited monthly price has increased to $31.99, up from $30.

ESPN Streaming Price Changes

The annual prices are now $139.99 for ESPN Select and $319.99 for ESPN Unlimited.

Existing Subscribers Get a Transition Period

The price increase does not necessarily mean every existing customer was charged the new amount immediately on September 17.

ESPN says customers who subscribed before August 20, 2026, retain their previous price until their first billing date after September 17. This means the actual date when an existing subscriber sees the higher charge can depend on their individual billing cycle.

New subscribers, meanwhile, are subject to the current prices listed by ESPN.

The change applies to monthly and annual direct subscriptions, although annual subscribers generally remain on their existing plan terms until renewal.

What ESPN Select Includes

ESPN Select is essentially the new home for the ESPN+ experience.

The service includes ESPN+ programming and a large collection of live and on-demand sports. ESPN says Select subscribers can watch content covering soccer, PGA TOUR events, NHL games, college sports, tennis and other programming.

ESPN+ itself has not been discontinued.

Instead, existing ESPN+ subscribers were transitioned into ESPN Select while continuing to receive access to the ESPN+ content they previously received.

For viewers who primarily want ESPN’s streaming library and selected live sports rather than the complete network lineup, Select remains the lower-cost direct subscription.

What ESPN Unlimited Includes

ESPN Unlimited is designed for viewers who want access to the broader ESPN ecosystem.

The package includes everything available through Select plus the company’s wider collection of networks and services. ESPN lists ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN+, ESPN on ABC, ESPN3, SEC Network+ and ACCNX among the services available through Unlimited.

The plan also covers major sports programming, including NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, tennis, golf, college football and basketball, WWE and other events carried across ESPN’s network portfolio.

That broader content offering explains the significant difference between the Select and Unlimited subscription prices.

ESPN’s Direct-to-Consumer Strategy

The price increase comes as ESPN continues building its direct-to-consumer business.

Rather than relying exclusively on cable and satellite distribution, ESPN has developed subscription plans that allow consumers to access sports programming directly through the ESPN platform.

The company has also expanded integration with Disney+ and Hulu. Subscribers who have eligible ESPN Select or Unlimited access can view certain ESPN programming through Disney+ and Hulu, although some ESPN content remains available only through the ESPN app.

This strategy gives ESPN multiple ways to distribute its content while maintaining connections with traditional pay-TV providers.

ESPN Unlimited Is Also Available Through Some TV Providers

The new direct subscription prices do not necessarily mean every ESPN viewer has to purchase Unlimited separately.

ESPN says customers of participating providers, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV, Fubo TV, Spectrum TV, Verizon FiOS, U-verse, Cox and Comcast Xfinity, may already receive ESPN Unlimited as part of their existing pay-TV package.

Customers generally need to activate their ESPN entitlement and connect it with their MyDisney account.

This means the effective cost of accessing ESPN programming can vary depending on whether a consumer subscribes directly to ESPN, uses a Disney/Hulu bundle or receives ESPN through a participating television provider.

Why the Price Increase Matters for Sports Streaming

The ESPN price increase highlights a broader change in the sports streaming market.

Live sports have traditionally been among the most valuable forms of television programming because they encourage viewers to watch events in real time rather than relying on delayed or on-demand viewing.

Streaming services are increasingly offering sports directly to consumers, while major media companies continue to negotiate expensive rights agreements for leagues and sporting events.

For consumers, this has created more flexibility but also a growing number of separate subscriptions.

Someone interested in multiple leagues may need several streaming services to watch different competitions, potentially making the combined monthly cost significantly higher than any individual subscription.

ESPN Continues Expanding Its Streaming Offering

ESPN’s direct-to-consumer strategy has also been accompanied by changes to its broader sports rights portfolio.

The company has been adding programming and digital features designed to make its streaming platform a more comprehensive destination for sports fans.

The Unlimited plan is particularly important in this strategy because it combines ESPN+ content with programming traditionally associated with ESPN’s television networks.

The company has also been integrating its ESPN offering into Disney’s wider streaming ecosystem.

Disney’s Role in ESPN Streaming

ESPN is part of the broader Disney entertainment portfolio, and its streaming strategy increasingly connects sports with Disney’s other streaming products.

Eligible customers can purchase Disney+, Hulu and ESPN together, creating a combined subscription rather than maintaining separate services.

ESPN says customers with eligible bundle subscriptions can access ESPN content through Disney+, Hulu and the ESPN app, although availability varies by specific content and subscription.

That bundling approach gives consumers another option as ESPN’s standalone prices increase.

What the ESPN Price Increase Means for Consumers

For an ESPN Select subscriber, the increase from $13 to $13.99 represents an additional 99 cents per month, or about $11.88 over 12 months if calculated across a full year at monthly pricing.

For ESPN Unlimited, the increase from $30 to $31.99 represents an additional $1.99 per month, or about $23.88 over 12 months.

The annual plans are separately priced at $139.99 for Select and $319.99 for Unlimited.

Consumers therefore have several factors to consider, including the sports they watch, whether their existing television provider already includes ESPN Unlimited and whether a Disney/Hulu/ESPN bundle provides better value for their viewing habits.

Looking Ahead

The ESPN hikes streaming prices at a time when sports media is becoming increasingly centered on direct-to-consumer platforms.

The new $13.99 ESPN Select and $31.99 ESPN Unlimited monthly prices take effect for the applicable billing cycles beginning September 17, while existing subscribers who joined before August 20 receive their previous pricing until their first billing date after the change.

For ESPN, the move represents another step in developing a streaming business alongside its traditional television distribution. For sports fans, the change adds another consideration to the increasingly complex cost of accessing live sports across multiple platforms.

FAQs

1. When does the ESPN streaming price increase begin?
The new pricing takes effect September 17, 2026, with existing subscribers transitioning according to their billing dates.

2. How much does ESPN Select cost now?
ESPN Select costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year.

3. How much does ESPN Unlimited cost now?
ESPN Unlimited costs $31.99 per month or $319.99 per year.

4. How much did ESPN Select cost before the increase?
The previous monthly price was $13.

5. How much did ESPN Unlimited cost before the increase?
The previous monthly price was $30.

6. Is ESPN+ being discontinued?
No. ESPN says existing ESPN+ subscribers were transitioned to ESPN Select while retaining access to ESPN+ content.

7. What is the difference between ESPN Select and Unlimited?
Select provides ESPN+ content, while Unlimited includes Select content plus ESPN’s broader network and service lineup.

8. Can ESPN Unlimited be included with a TV subscription?
Yes. ESPN says customers of various participating pay-TV providers may already receive ESPN Unlimited through their packages.

9. Can ESPN content be watched through Disney+?
Eligible subscribers with ESPN Select, Unlimited or qualifying Disney+/Hulu/ESPN bundles can access certain ESPN content through Disney+, although some content remains exclusive to the ESPN app.

10. Do existing subscribers immediately pay the new price?
Not necessarily. Subscribers who joined before August 20, 2026 retain their previous price until their first billing date after September 17.