Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) is one of the most successful cable sports networks around. It was launched in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen and his son Scott, and the company behind this network is ESPN Inc. This operation is owned jointly by Hearst Communications (20%) and Disney (80%).

ESPN broadcasts mainly from Bristol, Connecticut, but the channel also has offices in New York City, Seattle, Charlotte, Miami, and Los Angeles. Fans can enjoy watching sports events in more than 200 countries across all seven continents.

The network offers 8 related channels; ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPN News, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, Longhorn Network, SEC Network, and ACC Network. It also has one international channel – ESPN International – which operates in Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean, and Oceania.

As a network, ESPN focuses on sports-related programs – including telecasts of live and pre-taped events, sports talk shows, sports highlights and other relevant sports news.

Fans of live ESPN will need to have access to cable or subscribe to a streaming platform such as YouTube TV, Hulu With Live TV, AT&T TV Now or Sling TV. There’s a paid version, ESPN+, with three different subscription models. Furthermore, the ESPN app is available on both tablets and mobile devices in the US.

ESPN’s coverage includes a variety of sports programs. For example, it broadcasts sports news, analysis in the form of debates and talks, and game telecasts. ESPN’s mission is to serve sports fans, which they accomplish by addressing different strategies across many geographical regions. Their fan base is similar everywhere, appealing to individuals between the ages of 10 and 54.

The network covers four main sports: tennis, baseball, basketball, and college football, as well as major leagues from the NBA, college football, NFL, MLB, NCAA Basketball, and more. The channel does not shy away from featuring other sports in its program, such as various fighting sports, tennis, and NASCAR. To complement their program, ESPN broadcasts sports events from the past few decades and some of the most iconic moments in sports history.

Over the years, ESPN has been criticized for its undivided focus on men’s professional sports and the lack of women’s sports on the network. However, they have since improved and balanced out their program with more women’s sports coverage, such as women’s basketball and athletics.

Sling TV

• 3-day free trial with just a mobile number required
• Sling Orange is $20 for the first month (and $30 a month afterwards)
• Flexible subscriptions with $5 extra add-ons available for Cloud DVR, News, Comedy or Kids packages
• Compatible with Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, desktop and more
• Includes 10 hours of recording time with Cloud DVR
• Up to 30 channels available

Hulu Live TV 

• 7 day free trial
• One subscription plan is available at $54.99 a month
• Between 50 and 70 channels are available, with full coverage of ESPN channels
• Compatible with web browsers, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and more
• 5 hours of Cloud DVR storage available
• Allows 2 users to stream simultaneously
• Offers both live and on-demand content

AT&T TV Now 

• 7 day free trial
• Subscriptions begin at $65 a month
• Offers 40+ channels, including top choices such as HBO
• 6 different packages, with ESPN included in the Plus package
• Multiple simultaneous streams available
• 20 hours of DVR recording time
• Available on both computers and mobile devices, as well as Apple TV, Roku, and more
• 25,000+ titles available on-demand

YouTube TV

• 5 day free trial
• Subscription package costs $49.99 a month
• 70+ channels available
• Built-in DVR with unlimited storage
• Compatible with Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, computer and mobile devices
• ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU included