ESPN3
Country | United States |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Ownership | |
Owner | The Walt Disney Company (80%) Hearst Communications (20%) |
Parent | ESPN Inc. |
Sister channels | |
History | |
Launched | 2005specify] | [
Former names | ESPN360.com (2005–2010) ESPN3.com (2010–2011) |
Links | |
Website | www |
Availability | |
Streaming media | |
WatchESPN or ESPN app | WatchESPN.com (U.S. cable subscribers only; requires login from pay television provider to access content) |
Sling TV | Internet Protocol television |
ESPN3 (formerly ESPN360 and ESPN3.com) is an online streaming service owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (which operates the network, through its 80% controlling ownership interest) and Hearst Communications (which holds the remaining 20% interest), that provides live streams and replays of global sports events to sports fans in the United States.
History
The use of the name ESPN3 was discussed as early as 1996 for the channel that would eventually become known as
Beginning with the launch of subscription
Description
As of 2023, ESPN3 broadcasts are mostly events that air over-the-air on ABC exclusively (with some exceptions which those broadcasts don’t air on ESPN3 but instead on ESPN+), alternate camera angles of programming airing in simulcast on one of the linear networks (see ESPN Megacast), panorama coverage of multiple courts (in the case of bracket tournaments, especially for major tennis tournaments), Spanish dubs not carried on ESPN Deportes, and a limited amount of exclusive college sports programming, mostly from smaller colleges and universities.
In contrast to WatchESPN and other TV Everywhere services, access to ESPN3 from computers is automatically determined by assessing the incoming IP address. Those accessing from outside their usual network or from a mobile device can (and must) use their TV Everywhere login to access ESPN3 content.
Availability
In the United States, the network is available to individuals who receive their high-speed Internet connection or cable television subscription from an affiliated service provider. Since 2008, ESPN3 has also been available to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers with college/university (.edu) and U.S. military (.mil) IP addresses. [8] ESPN3 is only available to Internet providers who pay fees to ESPN. ESPN3 is not carried by traditional cable and satellite providers, as it is not a single channel, but streams multiple live events at the same time; however, ESPN includes a listing for a linear "ESPN3" channel (which only includes one event at a time) in the television listings on its website. As part of the wide-ranging distribution agreement that DirecTV and The Walt Disney Company announced, ESPN3 was made available to DirecTV customers in early 2015.[9] In December 2016, ESPN started the nationwide rollout of the ESPN App on DirecTV set top boxes in five states, which allows customers to stream thousands of live events from ESPN3 on their DirecTV set top boxes.[10] The nationwide rollout was completed in February 2017.[11]
On November 1, 2010, ESPN3 launched on
Criticism
Some
ESPN3 bundles its content into the fees of the participating ISP, regardless of whether or not users partake in accessing its content. If a particular ISP does not pay subscription fees to ESPN, users of that ISP are not granted access to ESPN3. There is no way for individual users to overcome these access restrictions as ESPN3 does not provide subscription options for individual users or any other non-ISP entities, and because most ISPs operate in specific territories without competition, a subscriber cannot access ESPN3 unless a participating ISP actually operates in the area. ESPN's only recommended solution in such a situation is to have the consumer lobby an ISP that is available in their area to add ESPN3.RCN[18] does not allow internet-only and basic cable subscribers to access ESPN3; only those who subscribe to a standard cable tier or higher (and thus access ESPN's linear networks) can use the service. Thus, in these cases the cost of the service is bundled into the cable bill and not the Internet bill.
References
- ^ Kent, Milton (May 14, 1996). "Viewers may soon have choice of 2 new all-sports channels". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ Roberts, Daniel (January 22, 2014). "ESPN's secret web weapon: ESPN3". Fortune. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ "ESPN Corporate Information". ESPN MediaZone. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
- ^ "ESPN Changes Broadband Game Plan; Will Relaunch ESPN360 With Emphasis On Live Events". Paid Content. April 8, 2007. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2007.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (February 10, 2010). "ESPN360.com to Become ESPN.com on April 4". Multichannel News. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
- ^ Nagle, Dave (January 6, 2012). "ESPN, Inc.: 2011 in Review". ESPN Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ^ Theisen, Lauren. "ESPN's New $4.99-A-Month Service Is Taking Away Some Programming On ESPN3". Deadspin. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
- ^ Capelouto, Susanna. "ESPN3 grows its offerings with student productions". Marketplace. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "DIRECTV and The Walt Disney Company Sign Expansive Agreement" (Press release). DIRECTV.
- ^ "ESPN App Begins Nationwide Rollout on AT&T DIRECTV Set Top Boxes". 28 December 2016.
- ^ "ESPN App Completes Nationwide Rollout on AT&T DIRECTV Set Top Boxes". 15 February 2017.
- ^ "Xbox Live Gold Changes Frequently Asked Questions". Xbox.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (1 April 2014). "Dish launches ESPN, ABC and Disney internet-video services". Variety.
- ^ Lieneck, Allasyn (23 September 2016). "Sling TV Launches ESPN3, SEC Network Plus in channel guide". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Eliot Van Buskirk (February 5, 2009). "ESPN to ISPs: Pay for Your Customers to Play Video". Wired.
- ^ Ryan Singel (June 12, 2009). "Cable ISPs See Net Neutrality Foul in ESPN Online-Video Charges". Wired.
- ^ Reinhardt Krause (August 24, 2010). "Will Disney's ESPN Turn The Internet Into A Giant Cable Network?". Archived from the original on January 26, 2012.
- ^ "RCN High Speed no longer supplying ESPN3? - RCN - DSLReports Forums". DSL Reports.