If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
Just as the fall sports calendar starts heating up, watching ESPN directly is about to get a little more expensive.
Beginning Sept. 17, ESPN is raising the price of its standalone ESPN Unlimited plan from $29.99 to $31.99 per month, while its annual subscription jumps from $299.99 to $319.99. The lower-cost ESPN Select tier is also increasing from $12.99 to $13.99 per month and from $129.99 to $139.99 annually.
For sports fans primarily interested in ESPN’s flagship
For sports fans primarily interested in ESPN’s flagship channels, however, Sling TV offers a cheaper route. The streamer’s recently launched Sling Essentials package costs $19.99 per month and includes both ESPN and ESPN2 alongside more than 10 other channels, including Disney Channel, Freeform and Hallmark Mystery. Subscribers also get 50 hours of DVR storage.
Popular on Variety
For fans who want even more college sports, Sling also offers Sling Select with Sports Extra and a Season Pass option, which bundle in channels such as ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network and more for broader access throughout the college football season.
Sling Essentials particularly timely with football season underway. ESPN remains the home of “Monday Night Football,” with the New York Giants taking on the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 21 at 8:15 p.m. ET, followed by the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears on Sept. 28. ESPN2 also carries the alternate “ManningCast” for select “Monday Night Football” games.
College football is another major draw
College football is another major draw. ESPN’s networks will carry more than 1,000 games throughout the 2026-27 season across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network and other platforms, in addition to the network’s weekly “College GameDay” coverage.
The basic $19.99 Sling Essentials subscription gets you ESPN and ESPN2, but diehard college fans can tack on Sports Extra for an additional $11 per month, bringing the total to $30.99. The add-on brings SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU and ESPNEWS into the mix, giving viewers substantially more access to SEC and ACC games throughout the season.
Baseball fans also have plenty to watch as the MLB postseason race enters its final stretch. ESPN will exclusively televise a Sept. 23 doubleheader featuring the Cleveland Guardians against the Boston Red Sox at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Houston Astros against the Seattle Mariners at 10 p.m. ET. “Baseball Tonight” programming will surround marquee matchups with analysis and highlights.
On the basketball front, ESPN remains one
On the basketball front, ESPN remains one of the WNBA’s national television partners. The league returns from its FIBA World Cup break this week before concluding the regular season Sept. 24, with the playoffs tipping off Sept. 27. Disney’s ESPN and ABC networks will carry two first-round playoff series and one semifinal series.
And ESPN’s appeal goes well beyond the games themselves. Its year-round studio slate includes “SportsCenter,” “Get Up,” “First Take,” “NFL Live,” “The Pat McAfee Show,” “Pardon the Interruption,” “College GameDay” and more, offering pregame coverage, postgame reaction, highlights, interviews and analysis throughout the week.
Stream ESPN on Sling TV here.
