• by Wayne Friedman , Yesterday

As with other adapting legacy pay TV providers, DirecTV is adding more premium streaming services to its linear TV network bundle, now including an ESPN "unlimited" package to all its current subscribers at no additional cost.

The ESPN unlimited plan includes the new ESPN direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform (launching this fall); ESPN+, an earlier limited ESPN streaming service; as well as ESPN branded broadcasts on ABC Television Network. 

For DirecTV streaming customers with a Gemini set-top box device -- and those who subscribe to a Signature Package -- they will receive not only an ESPN unlimited package, but a “basic” ad-supported package of Disney+ and Hulu as well.

In January, DirecTV struck a new licensing agreement with Walt Disney that included access to Disney streaming services. 

DirecTV says there are plans to add advertising-streaming options of Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max and NBCUniversal’s Peacock later this year.

In May, Disney officially announced the new anticipated full-fledged ESPN streaming service at $29.99 a month that included all ESPN networks and ESPN broadcasts on ABC. Another  ESPN  “select” plan, offering the current ESPN+ service, is also forthcoming. 

Disney will sell its full bundle of streaming services -- including The Disney Bundle (Disney+ and Hulu) -- for $35.99 per month, with an initial offer of $29.99 per month.