What Is ESPN Plus? Key Differences, Content, Costs & More Compared to Traditional ESPN Channels

Understanding ESPN Services: From Traditional Channels to Streaming Platforms

Sports entertainment has changed so much in recent years, and ESPN is right at the center of all that change. If you’re trying to figure out all the different ways to watch sports through ESPN, you’ll find a mix of good old cable channels, streaming services, and special content just for super fans. One thing people often ask about is what is espnews? Well, it’s pretty simple: ESPNEWS is ESPN’s own 24/7 sports news channel. It gives you constant updates, expert opinions, and the best highlights from all the big sports. Think of it like a sports news network that never sleeps, always keeping you in the loop.

Then there’s ESPN Plus (or ESPN+), which is ESPN’s big move into streaming. It’s totally different from the regular channels you get with cable, like ESPN or ESPNEWS. ESPN+ is its own separate thing you sign up for, and you can only get to it through the ESPN app. It doesn’t take the place of your cable package; instead, it adds tons of special stuff you can’t find anywhere else. Cool, right?

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How ESPN+ Stands Apart From Regular ESPN Channels

So, how exactly is ESPN+ different from the ESPN channels you might already know, like ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNEWS? A few big things set them apart:

1. How You Get It: The regular channels (yep, including ESPNEWS) need you to have a cable or satellite subscription, like from DIRECTV. ESPN+? That’s different. You sign up for it separately and only watch it through the ESPN app on your devices.
2. What’s Actually On: If you have DIRECTV, you can watch live games and shows on ESPN and ESPNEWS, but that doesn’t give you ESPN+. ESPN+ is all about the extra stuff – like special UFC fights you won’t see on TV, or soccer games from leagues all over the world.
3. Where You Can Watch: Watching ESPNEWS on DIRECTV means you’re pretty much stuck watching on your TV. ESPN+ gives you way more freedom. You can catch the action on your phone, your tablet, your streaming stick, or your game console. Watch wherever you are!

What Kind of Stuff Can You Actually Watch on ESPN Plus?

ESPN+ is like a treasure chest for sports fans who love more than just the mainstream stuff. While you might get the basics and news on what is espnews, ESPN+ gives you so much more depth. Here’s the kind of exclusive content waiting for you:

• Fighting Sports: Every single UFC Fight Night, boxing matches from Top Rank, and tournaments from PFL.
• Soccer From Everywhere: Get into leagues like the German Bundesliga, England’s EFL Championship, Spain’s Copa del Rey, and even out-of-market MLS matches you won’t find on regular TV.
• College Sports Galore: Thousands of NCAA games across football, basketball, baseball, and softball that don’t get shown on the big national channels.
• ESPN’s Own Shows: Awesome documentaries like the famous “30 for 30” series, plus shows with deep analysis and behind-the-scenes looks you won’t find anywhere else.

Finding Your Favorite ESPN Channels on DIRECTV

If you’re a DIRECTV subscriber and want to find your ESPN channels quickly, you need to know the right numbers. Here’s a handy guide showing where to find ESPN, ESPN2, what is espnews, and more:

ESPNEWS (Channel 207) is your go-to spot for non-stop sports news. It covers press conferences, offers expert analysis, and shows highlights all day, every day. The key thing to remember is that unlike ESPN+, which is a separate purchase, ESPNEWS is included in most standard DIRECTV packages. So if you have DIRECTV, you likely already have access to this constant sports news feed.

Breaking Down the Cost of ESPN+

Thinking about signing up? ESPN+ offers a few different ways to pay:

1. Pay Monthly: $10.99 every month. Good if you don’t want a long commitment.
2. Pay Yearly: $109.99 for the whole year. This saves you about $22 compared to paying month-by-month.
3. Get the Disney Bundle: $14.99 per month. This is a pretty sweet deal because it gets you Disney+, Hulu (with ads), and ESPN+ all together. Great for families!

Remember, while what is espnews usually comes included with your cable package (like DIRECTV), ESPN+ is an extra cost you pay on top. For a lot of people, especially families who also enjoy Disney and Hulu shows, that Disney Bundle is the best bang for your buck.

What Devices Work with ESPN Services?

Whether you’re tuning into what is espnews on your DIRECTV box or streaming ESPN+ content, you’ve got lots of options for devices:

• Smart TVs: Lots of brands like Samsung, LG, and Vizio have the ESPN app ready to go.
• Streaming Devices: Super popular ones like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV all support ESPN+.
• Game Consoles: Fire up your PlayStation 4 or 5, or your Xbox Series X/S to watch.
• Phones and Tablets: Both iPhones/iPads (iOS) and Android phones/tablets can use the ESPN app.

Basically, you can watch sports on almost any screen you own!

How to Watch ESPN Stuff on Whatever Device You Have Handy

Streaming ESPN on Your Phone or Tablet

Want to catch up on the latest from what is espnews or watch a live game on your phone? It’s really easy:

Step 1: Head to the Apple App Store (for iPhones/iPads) or the Google Play Store (for Android devices). Search for “ESPN” and download the official app.Step 2: Open the ESPN app. Look for the option that says something like “Log in with TV Provider”. This is how you unlock the regular ESPN channels like ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNEWS, if you have a cable/satellite/streaming TV subscription.Step 3: Type in the username and password for your TV provider. This could be DIRECTV, but also services like Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, or Sling TV.

If you’re specifically interested in the ESPN+ exclusive content, you can sign up for it right inside the app. Just tap on the “ESPN+” tab and follow the prompts to subscribe.

Saving ESPN+ Videos to Watch Later Without Internet

Here’s the thing: while you can stream live updates from what is espnews, ESPN+ itself doesn’t let you officially download shows or games to keep forever on your device for offline viewing. This can be frustrating if there’s an amazing game or documentary you want to save and watch again later, especially if you travel or have spotty internet.

That’s where tools like StreamFab ESPN Plus Downloader come in super handy. It lets you save those ESPN+ videos permanently.

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Why Pick StreamFab ESPN Plus Downloader?

• Grabs videos in super clear 1080p quality, often with awesome EAC3 5.1 surround sound.
• Skips the annoying ads while it downloads, so you get a clean viewing experience later.
• Saves everything as MP4 files – the most common video format, so you can play them on basically any device (phone, tablet, computer, TV).
• Keeps all the important details like subtitles and show information (metadata).
• Lets you download multiple videos in a row without having to babysit it.

How to Actually Download Stuff from ESPN+ with StreamFab:

Step 1: First, you need to get the StreamFab ESPN Plus Downloader software. Download and install it on your Windows PC or Mac computer.

Step 2: Open up StreamFab. Look on the left side for “VIP Services” and click on it. You’ll see a list of streaming sites; find and select “ESPN+”. Then, log into your ESPN+ account right inside StreamFab.

Step 3: Browse or search for the video you want to save within StreamFab (it acts like a browser for ESPN+). Start playing the video. Almost right away, a little window will pop up asking how you want your download. This is cool! You get to pick things like: * What audio language you prefer (like English or Spanish). * Whether you want subtitles, and in what language. * How good the video quality should be (up to that crisp 1080p).

Step 4: Once you’ve set things up how you like them, just click the “Download Now” button. StreamFab will get to work, and before you know it, you’ll have a DRM-free MP4 file saved in a folder on your computer. Now it’s yours to watch anytime, anywhere, no internet needed!

A Really Important Thing to Remember:StreamFab is a safe program – its installer has been checked by security companies like Kaspersky and VirusTotal and found to be clean, with no viruses or malware. It also keeps your login info safe. However, it’s meant only for saving stuff you’ve legally paid to access on ESPN+ for your own personal use later. It’s not okay to share downloaded videos with other people or put them online. That breaks copyright rules.

Answers to Common Questions About ESPN Services

Can I Find ESPN+ as a Channel on DIRECTV?

Nope. DIRECTV definitely carries the main ESPN channel (206), ESPN2 (209), and the sports news channel what is espnews (207). But ESPN+ is totally different. It’s not a TV channel number you flip to. You can only get ESPN+ by subscribing separately and using it through the ESPN app on your devices. So, it’s an app experience, not a traditional channel.

Is Using the ESPN App Free?

Downloading the ESPN app itself doesn’t cost you anything. You can get it for free from the app stores. But what you can do with the app depends:

• If you want to watch the live feeds of regular ESPN channels (like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS), you need to log in with a paid TV provider account (like your DIRECTV login).
• To watch anything marked as ESPN+ content, you absolutely need an active ESPN+ paid subscription.
• You can still see some free stuff without any login, like short news clips, some highlights, and basic scores.

Is Paying for ESPN Plus Actually Worth It?

It really depends on what kind of sports fan you are! ESPN+ becomes super valuable if you’re into things like:

• UFC fights or boxing matches that aren’t shown on the regular ESPN channels or what is espnews.
• Soccer leagues from other countries (like Germany’s Bundesliga or Spain’s La Liga).
• Following smaller college teams whose games aren’t usually on national TV.
• Loving ESPN’s documentaries and special shows (like “30 for 30”).

For a lot of people, especially families, the Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for $14.99/month) makes ESPN+ feel like a really great deal, even if you’re just a casual sports viewer who also enjoys movies and TV shows.

Wrapping Up: Making Sense of ESPN’s World

Getting the full picture of ESPN means understanding how all its parts fit together:

• Channels like ESPNEWS (DIRECTV Ch. 207) are your constant, 24/7 source for sports news and headlines, included in most cable/satellite packages.
• ESPN+ is your ticket to a massive library of exclusive live sports, original shows, and documentaries you won’t find on TV, but it needs its own subscription.
• Tools like StreamFab ESPN Plus Downloader solve a big problem: they let you permanently save your favorite ESPN+ games and shows to watch offline whenever you want.

For die-hard sports fans who want the best of everything – live news, live games, exclusive content, and the ability to keep legendary moments forever – combining a DIRECTV subscription (for ESPNEWS and major live events) with an ESPN+ membership and StreamFab is pretty much the ultimate setup. This way, you’re covered for breaking news flashes on what is espnews, can dive deep into niche sports on ESPN+, and never have to worry about missing or losing an incredible game moment, no matter your schedule or where you are.

Try StreamFab right now! Download videos with a single click from over 50 popular VOD services such as YouTube, ESPN Plus, Amazon, U-NEXT, and Netflix, as well as over 1000 video streaming sites around the world, up to 8K quality.

Get the Windows version | Get the Mac version | Take advantage of the limited-time promotional campaign

Some images used are sourced from DVDFab resources.