• by Wayne Friedman , December 4, 2024

Looking to build on its promotional and paid-subscription success, Disney+ is adding an ESPN "tile" and hub for ESPN+ content, to its streaming app onscreen home page.

Disney says that over the next 90 days, Disney+ bundle subscribers -- a package of three separate streaming apps, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN + -- can access live sports coverage including that from the NFL, NBA, NHL, college basketball, and Australian Open, as well as new episodes of ESPN documentary series ”30 for 30,” and other series.

A Hulu tile/hub was added to Disney+ earlier this year.

For its Disney+ stand-alone subscribers, the company says all ESPN and Hulu titles will be ‘visible” to all subscribers. These subscribers will also have access to a “curated” selection of live sports events.

The Disney+ Bundle “Trio Basic” is currently priced at $16.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ with advertising, and $26.99/month without ads.

For its most recent fourth-quarter period, Disney posted a better-than-expected $253 million in operating income and $143 million for its fiscal year-ending 2024 period.

Disney+ posted a “core” 4% growth in subscribers versus the third quarter rising to 122.67 million. U.S./Canada subscribers inched up 2% to 56 million.

In October, its stand-alone apps -- Disney+ and Hulu (its on-demand service) -- each posted a 2.4% share in the Nielsen monthly "Total TV" persons two-plus viewing measure. A year previously, Disney+ was at 1.9% share, while Hulu was at 3.1%.