LOS ANGELES, California: For the first time, Walt Disney's ESPN will be available outside of traditional pay TV in full, with the sports network debuting a new app on August 21 that bundles live events, news, stats, highlights, and personalized features.

The move marks Disney's most aggressive push yet to capture audiences who have cut the cable cord. ESPN, once available in 100 million U.S. homes in 2010, now reaches about 61 million households through pay TV.

"We know that fans don't just want to watch. They want an experience. They want to interact," ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said.

The app offers more than 47,000 live events annually, covering the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, college football, tennis, golf, and more. The service costs US$30 per month, and an introductory promotion bundles ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu at no additional charge.

Customization is central to the product. Users can select favorite teams and sports, receive tailored versions of "SportsCenter," and view AI-generated narration using ESPN anchor voices. A new "Verts" feature delivers scrollable, vertical highlight videos, while fantasy player stats appear next to live games. A linked ESPN Bet tab shows live, settled, and upcoming wagers.

Disney CEO Bob Iger described the app as "a sports fan's dream."

Industry analysts see the product as less of a threat to pay TV than a way to expand ESPN's reach to streaming-first viewers. "It's another step in Disney's pivot to streaming and the importance to streaming to the overall company," said MoffettNathanson analyst Robert Fishman.

To promote the launch, ESPN is running an ad campaign featuring actor John Cena under the tagline: "All of ESPN. All in One Place."

Pay TV will remain a major part of ESPN's business model. For the quarter ending in June, ESPN generated $1 billion of Disney's $4.6 billion operating income, or 22 percent, largely from distributor fees and advertising. Subscribers with pay TV will also have access to the new app, which Pitaro said aims to bring all ESPN customers into "the most holistic experience."