After years of being asked how it would respond to the streaming explosion, ESPN is finally unveiling a new direct-to-consumer app designed to offer its clearest answer yet to that existential question.

Consumer TV advertising for Disney bundles already has many variations, including one packaging Disney+ and Hulu with WBD's HBO Max.

MLB is about to toss a changeup with its media partnerships. Apple TV+ potentially could soon end its union with MLB and Netflix is set to acquire the Home Run Derby, among a myriad of changes, according to Yahoo. Netflix acquiring the summer extravaganza and MLB TV being sold to ESPN for a large payment are reportedly “all but certain.”

My colleague Andrew Marchand has the must-read story of how ESPN got to this company-defining moment, under its chairman Jimmy Pitaro, who has spent north of $80 billion on live-sports rights during his tenure to keep fans tuned in to ESPN and to stave off the Thanos-like inevitability of YouTube and Netflix consumption.

WWE premium live events will come to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer platform in 2026 with ten PLEs, including WrestleMania, being part of the deal. Speaking on The Ringer’s Press Box podcast, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro was asked about the deal and what fans might be able to expect.

Bob Iger, Disney CEO, and Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN chairman, join CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss ESPN's new direct-to-consumer platform, how the success of the app will be measured, and much more.

The launch of the ESPN DTC platform and new app is one of the seminal moments in the history of the WorldWide Leader in Sports. But ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro wants to make it clear that there is more to come than what is available at launch.