ESPN is launching a brand-new streaming service in Fall 2025. The unlimited package will feature everything that the ‘Worldwide Leader in Sports’ has to offer, including enhanced betting and statistical analysis. The hope is that these new betting features will drive more traffic to ESPN BET, leading to an increased market share nationwide.
ESPN is currently keeping the specific details of the enhanced betting features under wraps, with more information to be released later this summer.
What we do know is that viewers will have a personalized SportsCenter feature. This will allow users to track their favorite teams, focusing on game recaps and highlights according to their preferences.
The new app will also make it easier for users to consume ESPN content. “We are providing everything ESPN has to offer directly to fans and all in one place,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said when the new streaming app was announced.
With this new app, ESPN is continuing to try to create a more user-friendly experience.
In November 2024, ESPN rolled out a new feature where users can seamlessly link their ESPN BET app with the main platform.
This made it easy for players to click the game they were watching and place a wager, resulting in longer gaming sessions and more wagers placed at ESPN BET. It’s expected that the new additions will expand on these existing features.
With the new streaming app adding enhanced betting features, partner Penn Entertainment is hopeful about the impact of these additions.
During a quarterly earnings call with Wall Street analysts last month, Penn CEO Jay Snowden explained that the enhanced betting features will offer a level of personalization that is not currently available to users.
The hope is that upgrades like this will allow ESPN BET to increase its market share, catching up to leaders like FanDuel and DraftKings. This is an example of how ESPN and Penn are trying new ways to improve ESPN BET’s overall performance.
Penn and ESPN signed a 10-year, $1.5 billion agreement two years ago. There is an opt-out clause for either side after three years. With one year remaining until the opt-out is available, both sides are looking to innovate and build off positive signs from Q1 2025.
While ESPN BET has still incurred losses overall, Penn Q1 2025 update showed an adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) loss of $89 million, which was lower than the Q4 2024 losses of $110 million.
We’ve seen ESPN BET continue to make efforts to grow the platform, as it was recently featured in the alternate telecast for the PGA Championship in May. This included betting analysis and exclusive markets. Users could follow every hole and predict every shot. It was a more expansive way for players to place wagers on golf.
When the new ESPN streaming app is released in fall 2025, it will be just in time for the start of the NFL season. As one of the most popular times in the sports betting calendar, the release date was strategically selected to maximize potential impact on ESPN BET.
