Home / Business and Economy / Major Sports Deal: CW Joins ESPN App
Major Sports Deal: CW Joins ESPN App
29 Apr
Summary
- The CW's sports programming now accessible via ESPN's app.
- The deal includes college football, basketball, and NASCAR.
- The CW aims to expand reach without a new direct-to-consumer service.
ESPN and The CW have forged a significant four-year agreement, integrating The CW's sports offerings into ESPN's app via its Unlimited service. This partnership provides access to over 800 hours of live action, including ACC, Pac-12, and Mountain West college football and basketball, alongside NASCAR's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, PBR pro bull riding, PBA pro bowling, and WWE NXT.
This collaboration addresses the growing frustration among sports fans with numerous subscription services. The CW specifically aimed to avoid launching another direct-to-consumer product. Instead, the network will utilize ESPN's platform to expand its reach and viewership engagement, a move that simplifies future negotiations regarding digital strategy.
ESPN views this deal as a strategic move to increase engagement within its Unlimited plan and potentially attract new subscribers. By adding The CW's content, ESPN enhances its app's value proposition, positioning it as a primary destination for sports fans seeking diverse live events.
