BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ESPN is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to offer personalized “SportsCenter” episodes for subscribers of its forthcoming Flagship streaming service, scheduled to launch in fall 2025, according to CEO Jimmy Pitaro.
This initiative is among several new proposals announced at a recent press conference, which also highlighted the debut of a “Where to Watch” guide on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
The proposed personalized “ESPN SportCenter” aims to mirror a feature from NBC Sports’ Peacock service used during the Olympics, where custom highlight reels were generated using broadcaster Al Michaels’s voice to cater to individual preferences.
ESPN has not yet provided specifics on how it will adapt this concept for its own highlights show. The Flagship streaming service is expected to feature much of ESPN’s main channel content along with additional programming, targeting viewers who have moved away from traditional cable or satellite TV.
The “Where to Watch” tool is designed to help sports fans locate where to watch sports events across ESPN platforms and other networks, including broadcast, cable, regional sports networks, and streaming services.
Brian Marshall, vice president of sports product and technology for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, noted the importance of simplifying event discovery as sports viewing becomes increasingly fragmented. The tool will let users customize searches to focus on their favorite teams and sports, providing access to events for pay TV and ESPN+ subscribers, and will include partner networks such as NESN and Monumental Sports.
Pitaro also mentioned ongoing discussions with leagues and commissioners about how ESPN’s streaming service could address issues faced by regional sports networks in delivering team games to their fans.
ESPN’s Venu Sports streaming project with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery, originally slated to start this fall, has been delayed following a federal judge’s preliminary injunction due to a lawsuit from FuboTV accusing Venu Sports of antitrust violations.
“We respectfully disagree with the court decision,” Pitaro stated, underscoring ESPN’s commitment to providing more options for consumers.
Additionally, ESPN announced an extension of its rights agreement with the U.S. Tennis Association, ensuring coverage of the U.S. Open on ESPN, ABC, and streaming services through 2037.
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