ESPN+ price hike incoming, UFC PPV prices remain the same

As ESPN and Disney continue to look to take over more of the streaming entertainment market, they’re upping the price on their streaming services.…

By: Zane Simon | 2 years ago
ESPN+ price hike incoming, UFC PPV prices remain the same
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As ESPN and Disney continue to look to take over more of the streaming entertainment market, they’re upping the price on their streaming services. Back in May Disney+ increased their prices from $6.99-per-month to $7.99, raising yearly subscription rates from $69.99 to $79.99. Now it’s the sports channel’s turn to squeeze a little more out of their subscriber market.

Deadline reports that ESPN+ subscribers can expect to see a price increase starting August, from $5.99-per-month to $6.99. Raising their yearly subscription rates from $69.99 to $79.99. That’s the second such increase from the Bristol, CT based cable network, which started the platform at $4.99-per-month back in 2018, Apparently that price increase will not be reflected in the Disney+Hulu+ESPN bundle pricing at the moment, or UFC PPVs, which have already increased from $59.99 in 2018, to $64.99 back in January of 2020. And rose again to $69.99 in January of 2021.

MMA Fighting reports that ESPN+ has reached as high as 13.8 million subscribers, per their last earnings report. That’s a major increase from 7.6 million subscribers in early 2020, much of which has been pegged as a result of the UFC’s exclusive broadcast deal with the platform.

Unfortunately for MMA fans, that means that while PPV prices may be staying level (for now), it just got that little bit more expensive to follow along with all the UFC action on a weekly basis. Hopefully some of that cash trickles down to the promotion’s coffers, since Dana White recently revealed that they’re on a very tight budget.

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About the author
Zane Simon
Zane Simon

Zane Simon is a senior editor, writer, and podcaster for Bloody Elbow. He has worked with the website since 2013, taking on a wide variety of roles. A lifelong combat sports fan, Zane has trained off & on in both boxing and Muay Thai. He currently hosts the long-running MMA Vivisection podcast, which he took over from Nate Wilcox & Dallas Winston in 2015, as well as the 6th Round podcast, started in 2014. Zane is also responsible for developing and maintaining the ‘List of current UFC fighters’ on Bloody Elbow, a resource he originally developed for Wikipedia in 2010.

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