The first thing to understand about ESPN Select is that it is not the same as the regular ESPN channel on cable or the channel that live TV streaming services, such as Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV, offer. ESPN Select complements the main channel, but lacks its core programming.
ESPN Select’s programs are divided into three main content areas: live sports, ESPN+ originals (it still uses the old branding), and ESPN shows. Of the major national sports leagues in the US, ESPN Select streams live, out-of-market MLB and NHL games, as well as full replays of many of those matchups. You can also watch live NBA G League games or college football matchups airing on ABC or the ESPN cable network.
However, you must turn to a different sports streaming service to watch other national games, including ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Fans should check out our dedicated roundups for the best MLB, NBA, and NFL streaming services for more information on streaming those leagues.
(Credit: ESPN/PCMag)
As for other sports, ESPN Select includes PGA Tour coverage, but not complete tournament broadcasts. Instead, it shows featured holes for the last two days of an event. ESPN Select also streams international sports, including cricket and rugby. However, global soccer fans now require Apple TV to stream MLS matches. If you’re hyped for the World Cup, check out No Cable? Here’s How to Stream the FIFA World Cup.
One area where ESPN Select excels is in its coverage of men’s and women’s NCAA sports, including basketball, baseball, field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. However, ESPN Select’s coverage of combat sports has diminished. PFL is locked to ESPN Unlimited, and the UFC has shifted to Paramount+. Dazn is a good option for MMA and boxing fans, as it streams events from Bellator, Combate Americas, GGG Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, and other promotions. Netflix also streams Jake Paul’s attention-grabbing boxing events.
ESPN produces in-house series exclusively for the platform. These shows include Detail, a franchise that features in-depth analysis from top competitors across different sports; ESPN FC, a daily soccer show; In the Crease, which provides daily hockey analysis and highlights; and Peyton’s Places, a multipart documentary starring Peyton Manning. The service offers the entire archive of ESPN’s 30 for 30, E:60, Greeny, SC Featured, and SportsNation.
Based on its offerings, ESPN Select is more comparable to a single-network service, such as Paramount+, than to live TV streaming services like Fubo or YouTube TV. Similar to ESPN Select, Paramount+ grants access to live CBS coverage (including both sports and news broadcasts), original series (such as Star Trek: Discovery and The Good Fight), and on-demand shows from ViacomCBS’s vast archives (including The Twilight Zone and all the original Star Trek series). NBC’s Peacock is also emerging as a potential competitor to ESPN Select. Peacock’s paid tiers include Premier League, IndyCar, and select NFL playoff games.
(Credit: ESPN/PCMag)
