ESPN will call its forthcoming flagship streaming app simply 'ESPN,' sources say

ESPN has finally chosen a name for the upcoming streaming service for all accessible streaming.

Finished?

It is “ESPN.”

Disney's Sports Media Division will also announce the new and a kind of old-name for the All-Access Streaming application during a media event next week, according to people who are familiar with the issue that refused to be mentioned about non-public details. A Disney spokesperson refused to comment.

Disney managers have referred to the streaming product, which is expected to cost $ 25 or $ 30 a month, as a “flagship” internally during the past two years because they have developed the service. It will consist of everything ESPN has to offer, including all games; Programming on other ESPN cable networks such as ESPN2 and the SEC network; ESPN on ABC; fantasy products; New gambling tie-ins; Studio programming; Documentaries and more.

This will differ from ESPN's current streaming product ESPN+, which does not include the most viewed live games, such as Monday Night Football, which are currently only broadcast on traditional Pay TV. ESPN+ costs $ 11.99 per month and can be bundled with Disney+ and Hulu for $ 16.99 per month with commercials. ESPN+ remains a cheaper offer for consumers, according to people who are familiar with the issue.

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro decided to name the ESPN application to simplify what a messy streaming world has become, filled with different media products that can be bundled with other services at different price points, according to those people. The CNBC Sport newsletter reported for the first time in February that ESPN leaders are considering mentioning the ESPN application, among other things.

The new ESPN streaming service is a new distribution mechanism, but most content is not new. Instead, the launch is about introducing consumers in a different way that customers have access to ESPN's programming. The managers were attracted to bear the older name, the people said.

The ESPN Mobile application will be re-conceived and functioned as the gateway to the All-Access service on Smart TVs and devices. Pay TV subscribers who already get ESPN can automatically authenticate in the new app to get the digital bubbles and calls that are not available via cable TV. That overlap also played the decision of managers to maintain uniformity with the name ESPN, instead of another name that can increase the confusion, the people said.

ESPN will announce the prices of the application next week, as well as accompanying bundled discounts, said Disney CEO Bob Iger on Wednesday during Disney's Quarterly Win Conference Call.

ESPN has said earlier that the service will debut in the fall.