If you‘re a sports fan, you know that ESPN is a must-have. But as a consumer, you also want to get the most value for your dollar. Verizon offers several ways to get ESPN – either included free with a wireless plan or as an add-on for a fee. In this article, I‘ll break down all the options so you can decide if Verizon‘s ESPN offering is right for you.
As a retail and consumer expert, I‘ve analyzed the sports streaming market and compared Verizon‘s plans to other carriers. I‘ll share data-backed insights on what makes Verizon‘s ESPN offering unique and a great deal for many sports fans. Let‘s dive in!
Verizon‘s ESPN Offering: The Basics
First, let‘s cover the basics of how you can get ESPN with Verizon:
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Verizon Wireless Unlimited Plans: The Play More and Get More Unlimited plans both include the Disney Bundle (ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu) for free. Some older Unlimited plans may also qualify.
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Verizon Fios TV: All Verizon Fios TV packages include ESPN‘s core channels (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews). Higher tier plans may have additional ESPN networks.
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Add-On Subscription: If your Verizon Wireless plan doesn‘t come with free ESPN, you can add the Disney Bundle for $13.99/month before tax.
So in summary, you have three main ways to get ESPN through Verizon – included with a wireless plan, through Fios TV, or as a paid add-on. Now let‘s look at each of these in more detail.
ESPN on Verizon Wireless: A Great Value
The best way to get ESPN with Verizon is by subscribing to either the Play More or Get More Unlimited wireless plans. Both plans include the Disney Bundle for free, which is an incredible value.
Here‘s a pricing breakdown of these plans as of May 2023:
| Lines | Play More | Get More |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $80 | $90 |
| 2 | $70 | $80 |
| 3 | $55 | $65 |
| 4 | $45 | $55 |
*Prices shown are with auto-pay and paperless billing discounts. Taxes and fees extra.
As you can see, these plans are priced competitively, especially considering they include the Disney Bundle which normally costs $13.99/month on its own. The Play More plan in particular offers great value for individuals while the Get More plan has some extra perks (50GB premium data, 30GB mobile hotspot) that may appeal to heavy data users.
But how does this compare to other carriers? Let‘s take a look:
| Carrier & Plan | Price for 1 Line | Included Streaming Services |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon Play More Unlimited | $80 | Disney Bundle (ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu) |
| AT&T Unlimited Premium | $85 | HBO Max, 50GB hotspot data |
| T-Mobile Magenta Max | $85 | Netflix Basic (1 SD screen), 40GB high-speed data |
| Visible+ | $45 | Disney Bundle |
As this comparison shows, Verizon‘s Play More plan is the only one that includes ESPN and other sports content for free. AT&T and T-Mobile plans come with other streaming services but lack core sports channels. Visible+ offers the Disney Bundle but runs on Verizon‘s network which means deprioritized data speeds.
For sports fans that want reliable access to all ESPN‘s content, Verizon‘s Play More and Get More plans are the clear winners. But there are a few more important details to cover.
The Disney Bundle Deal: How It Works
You might be wondering – how is Verizon able to include the Disney Bundle for free when it costs $13.99/month normally? The answer lies in a strategic partnership between Verizon and Disney.
In 2019, Verizon and Disney made a deal to offer the Disney Bundle to select Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon saw it as a way to attract and retain customers while Disney aimed to boost subscribers for its streaming services. According to Verizon, the response was extremely positive:
"The addition of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ on our best-in-class network is a big win for customers," said Frank Boulben, SVP Marketing & Products at Verizon. "We led the industry in delivering great value to customers when we introduced Mix & Match Unlimited plans, and we‘re doing it again with an incredible offer on the Disney Bundle."
For consumers, this means getting $13.99/month of added value at no extra cost. The Disney Bundle includes:
- ESPN+: Live sports events, original series, and exclusive editorial content
- Disney+: 100s of movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic
- Hulu: 1000s of TV shows and movies with ads (ad-free available for $6 more)
One important thing to note is that the Disney Bundle is tied to your Verizon account and not transferable. If you already have separate subscriptions to these services, you‘ll need to cancel them to avoid duplicate billing.
Using ESPN With Verizon: Tips & Tricks
Once your Disney Bundle is activated, using ESPN on Verizon is pretty straightforward. Here are a few tips to get the most out of the ESPN app and website:
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Access live games & events: Tap the Watch tab in the app to see live ESPN TV streams and ESPN+ exclusives. You can also browse by sport or channel.
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Check out ESPN+ Originals: ESPN+ offers a variety of high-quality original shows, films and documentaries. Some popular ones include Man in the Arena: Tom Brady, Peyton‘s Places, and The Captain (on Derek Jeter).
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Read up on your teams: The ESPN app and website offer a ton of great articles, analysis and stats. You can customize your feed by selecting your favorite teams and sports to follow.
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Watch on the big screen: The ESPN app is available on most streaming devices, game consoles and smart TVs. Just sign in with your ESPN account to start watching on your TV.
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Download for offline viewing: Select ESPN+ content can be downloaded for offline viewing in the app. Look for the Download icon on a show‘s Details page.
Keep in mind, you can only stream on a limited number of devices simultaneously. ESPN+ allows up to 3 concurrent streams while Hulu (included in the bundle) only allows 2.
ESPN on Verizon Fios
If you‘re a Verizon Fios customer or considering the service, you‘ll be happy to know that all Fios TV plans include ESPN. Here‘s a look at Verizon‘s core Fios TV packages:
| Plan | Price | ESPN Channels | Other Sports Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your Fios TV | $64.99 | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews | FS1, NBCSN, NFL Network, MLB Network |
| More Fios TV | $84.99 | Above + ACC Network, SEC Network | NBA TV, NHL Network, Big Ten Network |
| Most Fios TV | $94.99 | Above + ESPNU, ESPN Deportes | MLB Strike Zone, Fox Sports 2, Pac-12 Networks |
*Pricing for standalone TV plans as of May 2023. Taxes, equipment charges and other fees extra. Bundling with Fios internet may reduce price.
As you can see, even the cheapest Fios TV plan includes all the core ESPN channels. The higher tier plans offer some nice-to-haves like ESPNU and ESPN Deportes but aren‘t essential for most sports fans. Other popular sports channels like FS1, NBCSN and league networks are included as well.
One important limitation of Verizon Fios is that it‘s only available in certain areas, primarily in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. If you‘re not in Verizon‘s Fios coverage area, you can still get ESPN through Verizon Wireless (assuming you have a qualifying plan).
Also, keep in mind that Fios TV packages do not include the ESPN+ streaming service. You‘ll need a separate subscription for that. But if you get the Disney Bundle offer with your Verizon Wireless plan, you‘ll be covered!
ESPN+ on Verizon: Is It Worth It?
We‘ve talked a lot about ESPN+ in the context of the Disney Bundle, but what exactly is it? And is it worth paying for if your Verizon plan doesn‘t include it for free?
ESPN+ is a standalone streaming service that offers live sports, original shows, and exclusive content you can‘t get on traditional ESPN channels. It costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year on its own.
Here are some of the top features and content you‘ll get with an ESPN+ subscription:
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Exclusive live sports: ESPN+ streams 1000s of live events not available on cable TV. This includes a wide variety of college sports (football, basketball, baseball, soccer, etc.), UFC, Top Rank Boxing, tennis, rugby, cricket and more.
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Original shows and films: ESPN+ is home to a growing library of original content. Some popular examples are Man in the Arena: Tom Brady, Peyton‘s Places, Detail (from the late Kobe Bryant), and The Captain (on Derek Jeter).
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30 for 30 documentaries: ESPN‘s award-winning sports documentary series is available on-demand with ESPN+. The library includes over 150 films covering some of the most compelling stories in sports history.
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Premium articles and analysis: An ESPN+ subscription unlocks exclusive content on the ESPN website and app, including in-depth analysis and insider stories from top sportswriters.
So is ESPN+ worth it? If you‘re a die-hard sports fan, then absolutely. The sheer volume of live events and original content makes it a great value. And if you‘re already paying for other ESPN content through a Verizon Wireless or Fios plan, ESPN+ is a nice add-on.
However, if you‘re a casual sports fan or only interested in watching your local teams, ESPN+ may not be essential. Most of ESPN‘s core content (Monday Night Football, NBA games, SportsCenter, etc.) still requires a cable or streaming TV package.
The Future of Sports Streaming
As we‘ve seen, Verizon is a major player in the sports streaming world thanks to its partnership with Disney/ESPN. But as more and more consumers cut the cord on traditional cable, the market is evolving rapidly.
One trend we‘re seeing is the rise of direct-to-consumer sports streaming services. Companies like ESPN, NBC, CBS and FOX are increasingly launching their own dedicated apps/services for sports content. Examples include ESPN+, Peacock (NBC), Paramount+ (CBS) and Fox Sports Go.
These services allow fans to bypass traditional cable packages and only pay for the sports content they want. They also give leagues and networks more control over their content and revenue streams.
At the same time, we‘re seeing more tech and telecom giants entering the live sports arena. Amazon, for instance, now has exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football, which it will show on Prime Video. Apple has also made moves into live sports with deals for Major League Soccer and Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+.
So what does this all mean for consumers? On one hand, more competition and options in the market is a good thing. Fans have more ways than ever to watch their favorite teams and sports without being locked into expensive cable contracts.
However, the fragmentation of streaming rights across multiple services can also be frustrating. Instead of getting all your sports channels in one place, you may need to juggle several subscriptions to get everything you want. And as more players enter the market, the price of sports rights is likely to keep going up – meaning higher costs could get passed on to consumers.
This is where Verizon‘s bundle strategy with the Disney Bundle could continue to be appealing. By partnering with a major sports media brand like ESPN, Verizon is able to offer a ton of premium sports content in one place – and at no extra cost to customers on certain plans.
It will be interesting to see how other carriers and media companies respond in the coming years. We could see more partnerships and bundles aimed at simplifying the sports streaming experience for fans. For now, Verizon‘s ESPN offering is a solid option for those who want easy access to the worldwide leader in sports.
The Bottom Line
So, do you get ESPN free with Verizon? The answer is yes – if you have the right Verizon Wireless or Fios plan.
Verizon‘s Play More and Get More Unlimited plans both include the Disney Bundle (ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu) at no extra cost. That‘s $13.99/month worth of value and a ton of live sports and original content. Verizon Fios customers can also get ESPN and other sports channels included in their TV plans, though ESPN+ still requires a separate subscription.
If you‘re a sports fan considering Verizon, it‘s definitely worth looking into these offers. The Disney Bundle in particular is an excellent value and not something other major carriers can match at this time.
Of course, as the sports media landscape continues to evolve, things could change. But for now, Verizon‘s ESPN partnership puts it ahead of the game when it comes to offering customers a complete sports streaming experience. Whether you‘re a die-hard fan or just enjoy catching the occasional game, Verizon has you covered.
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