Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN is rolling out its long-awaited stand-alone streaming app on 21 August, giving cord-cutters full access to the network’s 12 linear channels and about 50,000 live events for $29.99 a month. The debut marks the first time ESPN’s entire programming slate will be available outside the traditional pay-TV bundle. To deepen its gridiron offering, ESPN will pair the new service with NFL+ Premium at $39.99 a month starting 3 September. The bundle, which is awaiting final approvals, is expected to add NFL Network and the popular RedZone whip-around channel. Five NFL preseason games will stream in the app beginning 23 August, and the studio show “Sunday NFL Countdown” is moving production to Disney’s New York headquarters. The upgraded platform leans on personalization. Viewers can watch up to four contests at once through multiview, swipe through a vertical “Verts” feed styled after TikTok, or receive an AI-narrated “SportsCenter For You” recap tailored to their favorite teams. Betting odds, fantasy data and team merchandise from Fanatics are available within interactive tabs, and users can start transactions on connected devices. ESPN is simultaneously seeking additional rights to fortify the service. Industry sources say the company is negotiating to acquire MLB.tv and local Major League Baseball packages after Apple exited its Friday Night Baseball deal and NBC/Peacock stepped in for Friday and Sunday games; Netflix has reportedly landed exclusive rights to the Home Run Derby. Elsewhere in the crowded sports-streaming arena, Yahoo on Wednesday launched Yahoo Sports Network, a free ad-supported channel on major FAST platforms that will air roughly 60 hours of original programming each week.