Report: ESPN eyeing potential move to a subscription-based model

The Wall Street Journal reports ESPN is looking into launching a subscription service for cord-cutting sports fans.

By giving people an opportunity to purchase the channel without subscribing to a TV package, the move would likely have major ramifications on satellite, cable and internet TV providers.

Live sports are making a big push into the streaming sphere with Apple TV airing select MLB games and having exclusive rights to Major League Soccer, Prime Video airing "Thursday Night Football," and YouTube TV becoming the home of "NFL Sunday Ticket."

Per the WSJ, the concept is in its infancy working under the code name "Flagship." It will likely take some time for ESPN's streaming service to launch, but it will have some big events to market.

ESPN has TV rights deals with the Southeastern Conference through 2034, NHL through the 2027-28 season and MLB through 2028. ESPN also has the rights to "Monday Night Football" through 2033.

The network — along with ABC — will air two Super Bowls during that span, in 2026 and 2030.

Its deal with the NBA expires at the end of the 2024-25 season.

With the project far from a reality, it's unclear how much the standalone service would cost. Per WSJ, earlier this month, Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said, "It's a huge decision for us to make and we know that we've got to get it right both in terms of pricing and timing."

ESPN+, the network's streaming service, launched on April 12, 2018, and is $6.99 per month. It airs NHL games, select MLB games and several college sports. The new service, whenever it arrives, will undoubtedly cost more.

HBO Max, which is changing to Max on May 23, offers a likelier baseline. Its top tier costs $19.99 a month, but people can subscribe yearly for $199.99. That service has HBO's premium channel programming as well as multiple shows on various networks, including TNT, Discovery, HGTV and the Food Network.

Chances are if people are shelling out $20 a month for "Dr. Pimple Popper" and "90 Day Fiance," ESPN can charge more for "Monday Night Football" and Super Bowls LXI and LXV.

A future without dealing with cable companies is near, but chances are it will cost just as much if not more.