ESPN+ Streaming Service Launches

ESPN’s first attempt to cut out the cable guy and bring sports programming directly to consumers launched on Thursday.

Its new streaming video product, ESPN+, comes wrapped inside a re-launched ESPN app and costs $4.99 a month.

ESPN+ isn't an attempt to get sports fans to dump their cable package, but rather a way for the sports media giant to offer an additional service to its viewers while also gaining a foothold in the business of internet-delivered subscription products that are seen as the future of TV.

The new initiative offers programming not available on its flagship cable TV channel, such as live college sports and some Major League Baseball and NHL games. The service won’t have any live NFL or NBA games.

ESPN, which is owned by Disney, is hoping the addition of other programming, such as its flagship "30 for 30” documentary series, will convince people to pay for the new service, which was heavily promoted in Apple's app store on Thursday.

Speaking at a press event at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, this month, Pitaro said, “We are really doing this as a service that is complementary and additive and not competitive with the pay-TV business.”

While other companies such as HBO have been able to replicate their TV network services online for a growing audience of cord-cutters, ESPN has a much trickier problem in that many of the expensive sports rights it licenses can't be streamed online. Live sports also tend to have the complex issue of blackouts in different markets.