The CW making its live sports available via ESPN’s direct-to-consumer app
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- ESPN and The CW have entered a four-year agreement to stream The CW’s sports content on ESPN’s app via its Unlimited subscription service, expanding ESPN's digital sports portfolio.
- The CW's sports lineup includes 800 hours of live events such as ACC, Pac-12, and Mountain West college football and basketball, NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, PBR pro bull riding, PBA pro bowling, and WWE NXT.
- The deal aims to increase engagement for ESPN’s $29.99/month Unlimited service by adding unique content, while The CW avoids launching another direct-to-consumer product amid a crowded streaming market.
- For The CW, the partnership enhances its digital strategy and helps secure more live sports rights, providing additional reach and incremental viewership beyond its traditional broadcast audience.
- The collaboration positions The CW to grow its sports offerings on a major broadcast platform, leveraging its status as one of only five broadcast networks amid a sports market dominated by NFL, NBA, and college football.
