In just five months Walt Disney Co.’s streaming sports service ESPN+ has accrued more than 1 million subscribers.
The $4.99 per month service launched April 12 and features live sports events including MLB and NHL games, along with boxing, UFC, PGA Tour events, tennis, rugby, and college sports.
While the 1 million figure includes automatically converted paying ESPN Insider subscribers, the “vast majority” of customers are new signups that occurred since the ESPN+ service launched, according to the Wall Street Journal.
ESPN+ doesn’t offer access to ESPN’s linear TV channels, which themselves have experienced subscriber losses over recent years.
Although not sports-focused like ESPN+, the 1 million figure puts the service in the ballpark of other direct-to-consumer services’ like Showtime, CBS All Access, and virtual MVPDs Sling TV and DirecTV Now.
The WSJ noted the milestone is noteworthy for ESPN President James Pitaro, as he took the lead at ESPN in March with the task of ensuring a successful launch of the ESPN+ streaming service.