ESPN3

Not to be confused with ESPN 3D.

This article is about an streaming service in the United States. For the Latin American channel, see ESPN (Latin America). For the Brazilian channel, see ESPN (Brazil).

ESPN3 (formerly ESPN360 and ESPN3.com) is an online streaming service owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between the Walt Disney Company (which operates the network, through its 80% controlling ownership interest) and Hearst Communications (which holds the remaining 20% interest), that provides live streams and replays of global sports events to sports fans in the United States.

ESPN3

Country	United States
Broadcast area	Nationwide
Programming
Language(s)	English
Ownership
Owner	The Walt Disney Company (80%) Hearst Communications (20%)
Parent	ESPN Inc.
Sister channels	ESPN+ ESPN ESPN2 ESPNews ESPNU ESPN Deportes Longhorn Network SEC Network SEC Network+ ACC Network ACC Network Extra
History
Launched	2005 (2005)[specify]
Former names	ESPN360.com (2005–2010) ESPN3.com (2010–2011)
Links
Website	www.espn.com/watchespn
Availability
Streaming media
WatchESPN or ESPN app	WatchESPN.com (U.S. cable subscribers only; requires login from pay television provider to access content)
Sling TV	Internet Protocol television

History

The use of the name ESPN3 was discussed as early as 1996 for the channel that would eventually become known as ESPNews.^[1] The website began in 2005 as ESPN360.com, a mostly on-demand video website.^[2] In September 2007, ESPN360.com shifted away from on-demand content, such as studio shows, and shifted toward placing "emphasis on live events".^[3][4]

On April 4, 2010, ESPN360.com re-launched as ESPN3.com.^[5] On August 31, 2011, the service became simply known as ESPN3, and was incorporated into the WatchESPN app (which carries simulcasts of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater, SEC Network and Longhorn Network for cable subscribers).^[6]

In April 2018, a new subscription over-the-top content service called ESPN+ launched. ESPN+ is a separate service which does not include content from ESPN3 or ESPN's linear channels. A substantial number of programs that had previously been available on ESPN3 have since moved to ESPN+. This has drawn criticism online since such content has been effectively paywalled behind a separate subscription.^[7]

Description

As of 2023, ESPN3 broadcasts are mostly events that air over-the-air on ABC exclusively (with some exceptions when those broadcasts do not air on ESPN3 but instead on ESPN+), alternate camera angles of programming airing in simulcast on one of the linear networks (see ESPN Megacast), panorama coverage of multiple courts (in the case of bracket tournaments, especially for major tennis tournaments), Spanish dubs not carried on ESPN Deportes, and a limited amount of exclusive college sports programming, mostly from smaller colleges and universities.

In contrast to WatchESPN and other TV Everywhere services, access to ESPN3 from computers is automatically determined by assessing the incoming IP address. Those accessing from outside their usual network or from a mobile device can (and must) use their TV Everywhere login to access ESPN3 content.

Availability

In the United States, ESPN3 was originally available to individuals who receive their high-speed Internet connection or cable television subscription from an affiliated service provider that paid fees to ESPN. Since 2008, ESPN3 has also been available to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers with college/university (.edu) and U.S. military (.mil) IP addresses.^[8] ESPN3 is not carried by traditional cable and satellite providers, as it is not a single channel, but streams multiple live events at the same time; however, ESPN includes a listing for a linear "ESPN3" channel (which only includes one event at a time) in the television listings on its website. As part of the wide-ranging distribution agreement that DirecTV and The Walt Disney Company announced, ESPN3 was made available to DirecTV customers in early 2015.^[9] In December 2016, ESPN started the nationwide rollout of the ESPN App on DirecTV set top boxes in five states, which allows customers to stream thousands of live events from ESPN3 on their DirecTV set top boxes.^[10] The nationwide rollout was completed in February 2017.^[11]

On November 1, 2010, ESPN3 launched on Xbox Live. This service allows Xbox Live members to access live sporting events on ESPN3, among other offerings, at no additional cost. At launch, Xbox Live Gold membership was required to access the ESPN app; however, with the June 2014 update to Xbox Live, Gold membership is no longer required to access ESPN on Xbox 360 or Xbox One.^[12] Dish Network added ESPN3 in April 2014.^[13] In September 2016, ESPN3 was made available on over-the-top online video service Sling TV.^[14]

Criticism

Some internet service providers have complained to the FCC that ESPN3, in its original ISP-centric implementation, violated the principles of network neutrality.^[15][16][17] In this system, ESPN3 bundled its content into the fees of the participating ISP, regardless of whether or not users partake in accessing its content. On the other hand, there was the possibility that in some areas, viewers interested in ESPN3 content might not have any ESPN3-participating ISP available to use.

As of May 2025, while ESPN continues to support ISP-based enabling of ESPN3 content, including complimentary access via on-campus and military networks, access is now primarily enabled via TV subscription authentication; in these cases, access is available regardless of the viewer's internet provider.^[18]