ESPN Plus is a direct-to-consumer service which is a vertically integrated sports streaming service that consists of exclusive live games, shows, and films not on the ESPN cable networks. ESPN Plus, gives you the rights to MLB, NHL, UFC fights, College sports, soccer matches, and other events. As of late, there has been a lot of confusion among people who have transitioned from cable television regarding the availability of ESPN Plus through a DIRECTV subscription. In this article, the author will explain what ESPN Plus is, its pricing model, and how the service can be accessed using DIRECTV.
What is ESPN Plus?
ESPN Plus is another OTT service company owned by Disney that provides live and on-demand content related to sports to supplement the TV networks of ESPN. It offers thousands of live games and events each year, including MLB, NHL, NCAA Football & Basketball, UFC, Soccer, Golf, Tennis & So Much More. It also features regular programming, live studio content, and a selection of on-demand programming. As of now, an ESPN Plus subscription is available for $9. 99 monthly and $99. 99 annually.
ESPN Plus is a subscription service offered by ESPN that has a lot of elements included in it.
ESPN Plus is also a provider of live streaming of thousands of games and events every year. Some of the sports aired are Baseball’s Major League, NHL Hockey, College Football, College Basketball, College Baseball and much more, PGA Golf, Grand Slam Tennis tournaments, Ultimate Fighting Championships, Soccer Internationally, and many others. It also provides the UFC pay-per-view broadcasts for a fee for additional charges. In addition to the live sporting events, ESPN PLUS offers studio shows, other programs related to sports, and a vast catalog of games and events that were broadcasted before.
So, Does DIRECTV Offer ESPN Plus?
However, it is regrettable that DIRECTV does NOT provide consumers with an avenue to access ESPN Plus on its own. Since ESPN Plus is an over-the-top streaming service, it is not currently however included as an additional channel or package in any of the DIRECTV offerings. In this case, the only way to get ESPN Plus on your DIRECTV is by using another streaming service through a separate device connected to your television.
Instructions for ESPN Plus on DIRECTV
In as much as DIRECTV does not directly supply ESPN Plus, it can still be accessed on a device connected to the DIRECTV system. The only requirement is for you to have a streaming device such as Roku Fire TV, or Apple TV, among others that is connected to your DIRECTV setup. Here are the two options to access ESPN Plus: Here are the two options to access ESPN Plus:
1. Smart TV App
If a person has a connection of the DIRECTV to a Smart TV s/he should look for an ESPN Plus app on the screen of the Smart TV. In this app, you can download it, subscribe to it, and then you have ESPN Plus which has its content.
2. Streaming Device
If you are using an older model DIRECTV satellite box or an older model TV set, then you should plug in a streaming media player like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, etc. Once you have connected to the streaming media player, download the ESPN Plus app from the respective store, get a subscription to the service, and then play your content. The video will start running directly on the screen of your television as the sound continues to be produced from the DIRECTV satellite box.
This makes it possible for you to be able to watch shows on the ESPN Plus app even if you have been subscribed to the DIRECTV satellite offers. It allows you to watch thousands of live games and events along with the original shows that are unavailable on standard ESPN networks.
How Much does ESPN Plus cost to DIRECTV customers?
Moreover, the price of ESPN Plus does not differ depending on whether or not you have DIRECTV access or subscription. An ESPN Plus membership costs:
- • $9. 99 per month
- • $99. 99 per year, which is $20 cheaper per year than their most basic plan.
- • This statement holds that UFC PPV events go for $74. 99 each for ESPN Plus subscribers
That means even if you are a subscriber to the DIRECTV services, you will still have to incur the monthly or annual cost of ESPN Plus to enjoy this programming service. At the moment, there is no provision for the bundling option.
Is an ESPN Plus subscription beneficial for DIRECTV customers?
Sports fans can have access to thousands of live sports events and programs through ESPN Plus which are unavailable on ESPN, ESPN 2, or other ESPN television networks. This includes many MLB, NHL, and UFC fights, college football games, International Soccer, and more. The DVD provides quite a lot of value to die-hard sports fans because they get to watch these extra games and content.
That being the case, the final choice depends on whether you would benefit from the extra sports content. One of the challenges that many sports enthusiasts have had with DIRECTV is that its programming isn’t vast enough when it comes to sports. The fact that it costs $9. 99 monthly is also very strategic and does not pinch a client’s pocket.
Conclusion
ESPN Plus does not have a pipe-in relationship with DIRECTV like an add-on channel but it can be streamed on the DIRECTV setup through Smart TV or a streaming device. This means that there is exclusive content from the sports world that can only be accessed on ESPN Plus making it a worthy companion to the main ESPN channels. At an approximate price of $9. 99 per month, ESPN Plus helps DIRECTV clients access thousands of live streams and comprehensive sports analysis.
