Disney announces ESPN Unlimited bundle

Disney rolls out a three service bundle tied to a promotional year for Disney Plus and Hulu.

Disney Unveils ESPN Unlimited Bundle with Free Disney Plus and Hulu for 12 Months

Disney has launched ESPN Unlimited, a new service priced from 29.99 per month that adds ESPN originals to ESPN’s linear networks. The move comes with a rebrand of ESPN+ to ESPN Select. Disney then packages this with its broader bundle, which includes Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited, starting at 35.99 per month. New subscribers can take advantage of a limited-time offer that effectively makes Disney Plus and Hulu free for 12 months when joined with ESPN Unlimited in the ad-supported bundle at 29.99 per month. An ad-free premium version is also discounted during the same period, with 12 months at 38.99 per month from a 44.99 baseline. The promos run until January 5, 2026. Notably, ESPN Unlimited includes networks that carry commercials, so the ads question primarily affects Hulu and Disney Plus levels.

The offer is marketed as a cost-saving path for families and casual viewers, positioning Disney’s trio as a single habit rather than separate services. It reflects a broader industry push toward bundling as a way to lock in subscribers in a crowded streaming landscape while balancing the tension between ad-supported and ad-free experiences.

The bundle strategy signals Disney’s preference for scaled reach over standalone subscriber growth. By tying ESPN Unlimited to Disney Plus and Hulu, the company aims to increase cross-service retention, especially among households that want both sports and entertainment. Yet the real test will be whether these promotions convert temporary price relief into lasting loyalty as prices reset after the promotional year. In a market where churn is high, the bundle could become a tool to stabilize revenue, but only if content remains compelling and pricing remains transparent.

Another dynamic to watch is how this affects competitors. Bundles like this can redefine value perception, pushing rivals to respond with their own cross-service offers or with price competition. For consumers, the deal is attractive on the surface, but it could blur the line between essentials and add-ons, creating a dependence on a single ecosystem that may complicate switching later on.

Highlights

The deal invites closer scrutiny of how streaming value is framed and kept affordable over time.