We Tried the Fox One and ESPN Streaming Apps. Here’s What Happened.

Today, Fox and Disney launched their highly anticipated streaming apps: Fox One and ESPN. And ADWEEK is here to let you know what to expect.

Fox One, which showcases news, sports, and entertainment in one place, is available across web, mobile, and connected TV platforms, starting at $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually. Meanwhile, ESPN’s new streaming service is launching with a deal of $29.99 per month for 12 months in a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu with ads. Plus, on Oct. 2, customers will also have the opportunity to bundle Fox One with ESPN DTC Unlimited for $39.99 per month.

Ahead of the Fox One launch, which is looking to reach the more than 65 million cord-cutters and cord-nevers in the United States, Amit Dudakia, svp, head of product, Fox One, emphasized how the company embraced three core principles for the product: live first, unified experience, and AI where it matters. ESPN’s streamer is also embracing AI, utilizing it for personalization as it brings betting, fantasy sports, and commerce together, using the tagline “All of ESPN. All in One Place.”

To get a better sense of the apps and their functionalities, ADWEEK’s TV, media, and sports deputy editor Bill Bradley and TV reporter Saleah Blancaflor joined forces to test out the platforms and report back on everything from the ad experience to updated features and more.

Here are our honest opinions:

User experience

Saleah: I tried Fox One, and so far, it’s fine. I had some issues with the site and app crashing for me when I tried logging in this morning, and it froze for me a little bit this afternoon. However, it’s understandable to have some kinks on launch day.

When I finally got in, the home screen and interface were pretty straightforward and easy to navigate. I appreciate that Fox broke it out into four sections—For You, News, Sports, and Shows—to toggle between. I also like that it has a section dedicated to its live programming.

Bill: “It’s fine.” What a rousing endorsement. Uh, same with ESPN. I wasn’t prompted with an offer or anything through my normal Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle account, so I assumed I was grandfathered in. After watching ESPN+ for a while (and thinking it was the new app), I realized, “This isn’t right.” Due to errors on the Hulu website, it took over an hour to switch my subscription to the new bundle with ESPN Unlimited. Eventually, I got a person on the live chat who said, “Since it’s a new plan, some issues might be expected.” Yep.

The experiences on my computer, Fire TV, and phone were completely different. On the TV, some (but not all) broadcasts had a small callout noting that they have more interactive functionality, including showing your bets, fantasy teams, and having a QR code to connect you with shopping. The computer is different, featuring a top navigation bar that sends you to the ESPN Fantasy or ESPN Bet sites rather than having those as in-platform functions. And the mobile experience was much more personalized, with things like customizable “SportsCenter for You” feeds.

The Fox One streamer homescreen.

Ad experience

Saleah: The ad experience so far has been decent. No major or glaring issues. I watched some live episodes of The Jennifer Hudson Show. The ads aren’t targeted to me yet, and I didn’t find them to be too disruptive. They only seemed to show me a few. I saw ads for an Amazon towel, Metamucil, and Wells Fargo. Crumbl and Hyatt Regency were integrated into one of the segments as prizes in 25 Words or Less, but there was nothing jarring or especially specific to the streamer at this point.

How is ESPN’s ad experience so far?

Bill: Disney ads chief Rita Ferro previously announced at a press event that the new ESPN app would have both pass-through ads from linear as well as a “significant amount of programming” coming through the platform and creating new inventory. The pass-through was evident in live programming for me, like SportsCenter with the usual suspects: Allstate, beer ads, etc. Meanwhile, the platform has different sections, including recommended clips. I had to watch a 15-second spot about Sherwin-Williams before each of the videos I clicked on there.

But as far as additional inventory in live programming, it was fairly sparse. I had two of the same 30-second Chick-fil-A ads back to back and one for Moulin Rouge on Broadway while watching the US Open. There are more ads coming, with Disney already saying it’s looking to integrate brands into the more dynamic features, but the ad load feels low at this point.

Saleah: Fox One’s ad load also seems pretty low, which may simply be a function of lower inventory at launch.

Features

Saleah: I mentioned that I liked how Fox One has a section dedicated to its live programming, which is something they really pushed at the press demo I attended last week. Some of the options they highlighted, which I can enable from my end, include the ability to rewatch a full stream. If I can’t watch an episode or game in real time, I can opt to watch a condensed version or recap of a game.

I also like the multiview feature, which can be used on living room devices, so my friends and I can watch multiple games at once. In addition, there’s a DVR-like feature that allows users to set recordings up to 14 days in advance.

Bill: Interesting. It has Shorts functionality too, right?

Saleah: Yes! It mostly showed me snippets of Fox News clips. It seems like everything has a TikTok-like feature nowadays. I’m personally a little tired of it, but my friends said they actually like it when these platforms have features like this, so maybe it will be successful in reaching the Gen Z audience.

I also think Fox One could’ve come up with a different name other than Shorts. We already have YouTube Shorts. Fox also said that the Shorts feature is currently in beta mode. I’m assuming it’s still working out some of the kinks, which again, is understandable.

Bill: Mobile-wise, ESPN has Verts, a customizable video stream that lets you scroll through clips, also similar to TikTok. There’s also a more personalized “SportsCenter for You,” which updates daily using AI and creates content tailored for an individual user.

However, I think an overall tutorial about the app and the streaming platform functionality would’ve been helpful to play once someone logs in for the first time. I’m mostly discovering what this can do through reading the FAQs, and to be honest, that’s something someone who’s not writing about the app might not take the time to do.

There are promising features, such as personalization through mobile, ESPN Bet, fantasy sports, and commerce, but it’s also unclear where exactly all the functionality resides. Is it through mobile only? Do I need to screencast? What did I do so wrong in life that I wound up here? These are all questions you might ponder while using the ESPN app for the first time.

Saleah: I also found myself asking those questions.

Images of ESPN mobile app.

Overall takeaways

Saleah: I’m sticking to what I said originally about it being just fine. As a new streaming service, I know it takes time to work out kinks, so I understand some of the slowness and crashing, and it not being as seamless between devices. I’m assuming—hoping—that gets worked out in the long run.

Maybe I just don’t watch enough Fox programming to begin with, but the home screen and UX don’t particularly stand out to me. Some of the live capabilities they’re offering are useful, such as the ability to record an episode or game later, which is very convenient. I also think I’m too new to the platform to really experience a lot of the personalized features. But as a first-time use, overall, it’s fine.

Bill: For me, I think it was resetting expectations. The slogan for ESPN’s new streamer is “All of ESPN. All in One Place,” but right now, it feels like a little ESPN over here, a little over there, and a lot more on mobile. And, yes, I understand you’re supposed to sync devices and make sure everything’s connected. I’m sure it will be super seamless at one point. I just wish it were today, since I’m paying for it today. I’m sure Future Bill is going to love it. However, the Present Bill is now talking in third person, so clearly something’s gone wrong.