ESPN3 is a popular live sports streaming service that was formerly known as ESPN360 and ESPN3.com. It is an online streaming service run by ESPN Inc., and jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications. ESPN3 focuses on live streams and replays global sports events to viewers in the United States.

The initial format of ESPN3 at the time of its launch was as a website in 2005 under the brand ESPN360.com. At that time, it worked as a mostly on-demand video website. In September 2007, ESPN360.com began to shift toward live events and a few years later in 2010, ESPN360.com was rebranded as ESPN3.com. Then, in 2011, the network simply became known as ESPN3.

The channel was incorporated into the WatchESPN platform, which started airing live events even if they originally aired on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. Most sporting competitions that air on WatchESPN live are available on-demand from ESPN3 for up to 30 days after the match has ended.

To watch some of the programs that had previously been available on ESPN3, viewers now require an ESPN+ subscription. ESPN3 serves as ESPN’s digital network with thousands of live events each year, along with readily-available replays of recent shows that have aired on ESPN.

ESPN3 focuses on live online sports coverage across an array of global events – including the FIFA World Cup global qualifiers, X Games, North American Soccer League, DFB-Pokal and the Major Arena Soccer League.

The target audience of ESPN3 is those aged between 10 and 45 according to their demographic research. Viewers can enjoy many types of sporting competitions, including American football, NCAA College Football and Arena Football League. There is also NCAA College Basketball (both men’s and women’s), NBA and WNBA basketball, Major League Baseball, Sugar Land Skeeters and NCAA baseball.

Further coverage includes the Kontinental Hockey League and National Women’s Hockey League for ice hockey, Grand Slams, men’s major golf championships, cricket, Major League Lacrosse and NCAA College Lacrosse.

ESPN3 broadcasts lesser mainstream sporting events too, like competitive eating contests and the National Buffalo Wing Festival. Since 2011, ESPN3 has been one of the few places for people to broadcast live American Le Mans Series races. Furthermore, subscribers to ESPN3 can enjoy additional events that do not air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU, as well as exclusive broadcasts and alternate camera angles.

Sling TV

• ESPN3 is available on Sling Orange for $30 a month
• Enjoy a huge selection of top-rated cable channels
• Benefit from 10 hours of Cloud DVR storage
• Mobile devices, smart TVs, games consoles and living room devices are all compatible

Hulu Live TV

• Over 60 channels are available with a subscription
• Pay $55 a month for full live streaming access
• Watch content on two devices at once
• Stream the Hulu library of on-demand content

AT&T TV Now

• Prices start at $65 a month for over 40 channels
• There is a larger package of 60+ channels available
• Local channels are available so people don’t miss key coverage
• 20 hours of Cloud DVR space is offered for recording key titles
• Stream on computers, mobile devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Roku and so on

YouTube TV

• 7 day free trial on offer
• More than 70 channels included in the standard plan
• Stream on a whole host of compatible devices
• Stream simultaneously on up to 3 devices