ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Conference announced today (April 9) that selected regular-season digital productions, plus post-season championship coverage, will be distributed on ESPN+ — the first-ever multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company Direct-to-Consumer and International group in partnership with ESPN.
Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 per month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time.
Launching on Thursday, April 12, ESPN+ will be an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App. The new ESPN App will be the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans and is a showcase of the company’s culture of innovation.
The Valley, which is in the fourth year of a 10-year national rights-holding agreement with ESPN, will start its programming schedule on ESPN+ on April 13, when Evansville plays host to Bradley in a 6 p.m. Central baseball game at Braun Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.
A total of 79 MVC events — all originally slated for distribution on ESPN3 — will be featured exclusively on ESPN+ this spring. Regular-season softball (32) and baseball (22) plus post-season championships for those sports as well as outdoor track and field comprise the 2017-18 league offerings on ESPN+.
According to the Missouri Valley and ESPN officials the current “Watch ESPN” app will be phased out as part of the complete integration to the new ESPN app. The new app, which launches in conjunction with ESPN+ on April 12, includes scores, news, highlights, ESPN audio, ESPN+ programming and “TV Everywhere” of ESPN’s eight U.S. networks – ESPN, ESPN2< ESPN3, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN Deports, SEC Network and Longhorn Network.
Some of Missouri State’s spring programming originally scheduled to air free on ESPN3 will now be shifted to the ESPN+ platform at a premium, according to the MVC. A summary of those events is below.
For questions or online support for the ESPN App, please contact ESPN at (888) 549-ESPN from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m., daily or online at support.espn.com.
Missouri State’s remaining spring programming:
Remaining on ESPN3:
Tue., April 10 – Baseball vs. Missouri (6:30 p.m.)
Wed., April 11 – Softball vs. Oklahoma State (5 p.m.)
Wed., April 18 – Softball vs. Southern Illinois (12 p.m.) (DH)
Mon., April 23 – Softball at Southern Illinois (12 p.m.)
Fri., April 27 – Baseball at Bradley (6 p.m.)
Sat., April 28 – Softball vs. Indiana State (12 p.m.) (DH)
Sat., April 28 – Baseball at Bradley (2 p.m.)
Sun., April 29 – Softball vs. Indiana State (11 a.m.)
Sun., April 29 – Baseball at Bradley (1 p.m.)
Moved to ESPN+
Sat., April 14 – Baseball vs. Oregon State (6:30 p.m.)
Sun., April 15 – Softball vs. Bradley (11 a.m.)
Fri., April 20 – Baseball vs. Illinois State (6:30 p.m.)
Sat., April 21 – Softball at Loyola (12 p.m.) (DH)
Sun., April 22 – Softball at Loyola (11 a.m.)
Sun., April 22 – Baseball vs. Illinois State (1 p.m.)
Wed., May 2- Baseball vs. Kansas (6:30 p.m.)
Sat., May 5 – Softball at Drake (12 p.m.) (DH)
Sun., May 6 – Softball at Drake (11 a.m.)
Fri., May 11- Baseball vs. Southern Illinois (6:30 p.m.)
Sat., May 12 – Baseball vs. Southern Illinois (2 p.m.)
May 10-12 – MVC Softball Championship
May 11-13 – MVC Outdoor Track & Field Championship
May 23- 26 – MVC Baseball Championship
