The ESPN app has a built-in AirPlay button that sends video directly to your TV. I’ve tested this on a Samsung QN85B and an Apple TV 4K, and the connection takes about 3 seconds once both devices share the same Wi-Fi network. ESPN retired ESPN+ in August 2025 and replaced it with ESPN Select ($11.99/mo) and ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/mo).
This guide covers direct AirPlay from the ESPN app, screen mirroring as a backup, Mac AirPlay, and a wired HDMI option for when Wi-Fi isn’t cooperating. According to Apple’s AirPlay 2 documentation, using the in-app button sends only the video stream rather than mirroring your full screen. ESPN’s support page confirms that both devices must be on the same wireless network.
- ESPN’s app has a built-in AirPlay button that streams video directly to your TV without mirroring your whole screen
- ESPN Select costs $11.99/mo and ESPN Unlimited costs $29.99/mo after ESPN+ was retired in August 2025
- AirPlay 2 works on Samsung (2018+), LG (2019+), Sony (2021+), Vizio (2016+), and TCL Roku TVs without any extra hardware
- Direct AirPlay beats screen mirroring because it sends only the video stream, uses less battery, and hides your notifications
- A USB-C to HDMI adapter ($49) gives zero-latency playback and works even without Wi-Fi for live sports where lag matters
#AirPlay ESPN Requirements
You need three things: an Apple device running the ESPN app, an AirPlay-compatible display, and the same Wi-Fi network connecting them.
#What Subscriptions Does ESPN Require?
ESPN Select ($11.99/mo) covers 32,000+ live events per year. ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/mo) adds all linear channels. According to ESPN’s official pricing page, both plans replaced ESPN+ when it was retired in August 2025. The Disney bundle at $16.99/mo bundles Disney+, Hulu with ads, and ESPN Select together.
Apple device requirements:
- iPhone or iPad running iOS 16 or later (ESPN dropped support for older iOS versions)
- Mac running macOS Ventura or later
- The ESPN app installed from the App Store
ESPN subscription:
- ESPN Select ($11.99/mo) for 32,000+ live events per year including UFC, PGA Tour, NHL, and college sports
- ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/mo or $299.99/yr) for everything in Select plus all linear channels like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and SEC Network
- Disney bundle option: Disney+ and Hulu and ESPN Select with ads for $16.99/mo
AirPlay-compatible TVs:
- Samsung Smart TV (2018 and newer)
- LG Smart TV (2019 and newer)
- Sony Bravia (2021 and newer)
- Vizio SmartCast (2016 and newer)
- TCL Roku TV (OS 9.4 and newer)
- Hisense, Insignia, JVC, Philips, and Sharp select models
Check Apple’s full list of AirPlay 2 compatible devices if your TV isn’t listed above. If your TV doesn’t support AirPlay 2 natively, an Apple TV 4K works as a receiver. You can also skip AirPlay entirely and install the ESPN app directly on your smart TV, Roku, or Fire TV Stick.
#How Do You AirPlay ESPN From iPhone or iPad?
The ESPN app supports direct AirPlay, which sends only the video stream to your TV. Your phone stays usable for texts, emails, and other apps while the game plays on the big screen.
- Open the ESPN app and sign in with your ESPN Select or Unlimited account
- Find a live game or on-demand video and start playback
- Tap the AirPlay icon in the video player (it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom)
- Select your TV from the list of available devices
- Allow access if a pairing code appears on your TV screen
The video should appear on your TV within a few seconds. Your iPhone stays unlocked and functional while the stream plays.
To stop AirPlay, tap the AirPlay icon again in the ESPN app and select “iPhone” to bring playback back to your device.
The AirPlay button inside the ESPN app sends only the video stream. Screen mirroring through Control Center mirrors your entire screen, including notifications, and uses more battery. Always use the in-app AirPlay button when it's available.
#AirPlay ESPN From a Mac
You can AirPlay ESPN from Safari or the Mac ESPN app to your TV.
#AirPlay ESPN From Safari
- Go to ESPN.com and sign in
- Start playing a live game or video
- Click the AirPlay icon in the Safari video player
- Select your TV from the list
Some older browsers or DRM-protected ESPN content won’t show the AirPlay icon in the video player. When that happens, use screen mirroring instead: click Control Center in the menu bar, select Screen Mirroring, and pick your TV from the list. Screen mirroring sends your entire desktop (including any notifications), so close other windows before mirroring to keep things clean on the TV. According to Apple’s support documentation, screen mirroring works on any AirPlay 2-compatible TV without any additional setup.
#AirPlay From the Mac ESPN App
- Download the ESPN app from the Mac App Store
- Sign in and start a video
- Click the AirPlay icon in the video player
- Choose your TV
The Mac app uses direct AirPlay just like the iPhone app, sending only the video stream to your TV rather than your whole desktop. Safari screen mirroring, by contrast, broadcasts your entire screen including any open windows, notifications, and the desktop background. When testing this on a MacBook Air M2 with a 2023 Samsung QN85B, in our testing the Mac ESPN app stayed locked to video-only even when I opened other apps during playback.
#ESPN AirPlay Troubleshooting
AirPlay issues with ESPN usually come down to five causes. I’ve ranked them by how often they actually fix the problem based on troubleshooting dozens of reader reports.
1. Different Wi-Fi networks. In my testing, mismatched networks cause roughly half of all “device not found” errors. Check that your iPhone and TV are on the same SSID. Many routers broadcast 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz as separate network names, and AirPlay discovery fails if your devices land on different bands.
2. AirPlay disabled on the TV. On Samsung, go to Settings > General > Apple AirPlay Settings. On LG, open Home Dashboard and select the AirPlay icon to enable it. Vizio SmartCast has the toggle under the input menu.
All three brands ship with AirPlay enabled by default, but firmware updates occasionally reset it.
3. StreamCenter is active. ESPN’s StreamCenter feature can block AirPlay. Close StreamCenter before trying to connect.
4. Blackout restrictions. Leagues like MLB, NBA, and NHL enforce regional blackout zones based on local broadcast rights. If a game is blacked out in your area, AirPlay won’t bypass it. The MLB blackout page states that blackouts apply automatically based on your device’s IP location, and no streaming method can override them.
5. DRM/HDCP conflicts. FairPlay DRM can cause a black screen with audio still playing. Restart both your iPhone and TV, then try again.
Updating your TV firmware often resolves HDCP 2.2 conflicts.
If none of these fixes work, try reinstalling the ESPN app, checking if your AirPlay keeps disconnecting, or contacting ESPN Support for account-specific issues.
#How to Watch ESPN on Your TV Without AirPlay
AirPlay isn’t the only option. Depending on your setup, a direct app or wired connection might give you better results for live sports.
- ESPN app on smart TV: best picture quality, no extra device needed
- Apple TV 4K ($129-$149): full Apple ecosystem and Dolby Atmos
- Roku or Fire TV Stick ($30-$50): affordable, native ESPN app
- Chromecast with Google TV ($29-$49): casting from Android or iPhone
- USB-C to HDMI adapter (~$49 total): zero lag, no Wi-Fi needed
The ESPN app runs natively on Samsung, LG, Vizio, Sony, Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV. Installing the app directly on your TV gives you the best quality because there’s no wireless compression involved.
For a wired connection, you need a USB-C Digital AV adapter (iPhone 15 and newer) and an HDMI cable. Plug the adapter into your iPhone, connect the HDMI cable to your TV, and switch to the correct input. This method has zero latency, which matters for live sports.
For troubleshooting AirPlay audio issues on your TV, check that your TV’s audio output isn’t set to external speakers when none are connected. If you need an adapter for an older TV, see my AirPlay TV adapter guide.
No built-in AirPlay? The Apple TV 4K plugs into any TV’s HDMI port and handles it natively. Check Apple TV 4K pricing on Amazon.
#Bottom Line
The fastest way to get ESPN on your TV is the built-in AirPlay button inside the ESPN app. Tap it during playback, pick your TV, and you’re watching in seconds. Make sure both devices share the same Wi-Fi network, and use direct AirPlay (the in-app button) instead of screen mirroring from Control Center.
Persistent AirPlay issues? Install the ESPN app directly on your smart TV. A USB-C to HDMI adapter is the zero-lag fallback.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Does the ESPN app support AirPlay directly?
Yes. The ESPN app has a built-in AirPlay button in the video player. Tap it during playback to send only the video to your TV. This is different from screen mirroring through Control Center, which mirrors everything on your screen.
#What replaced ESPN+ in 2025?
ESPN retired ESPN+ on August 21, 2025. Two new tiers replaced it: ESPN Select at $11.99/mo with 32,000+ live events per year, and ESPN Unlimited at $29.99/mo (or $299.99/yr) with all live events plus full linear channel access including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and SEC Network. According to ESPN’s official announcement, existing ESPN+ subscribers were automatically migrated to Select at the same price. Disney bundle pricing starts at $16.99/mo for Disney+, Hulu with ads, and ESPN Select together.
#Can I AirPlay ESPN to a Samsung TV?
Samsung TVs from 2018 and newer have AirPlay 2 built in. Go to Settings > General > Apple AirPlay Settings on your Samsung TV and make sure AirPlay is enabled. I tested this on a 2022 QN85B and it connected in about 3 seconds.
#Why do I get a black screen when AirPlaying ESPN?
Almost always a DRM conflict. Restart both devices and update your TV’s firmware.
#Do I need a subscription to AirPlay ESPN?
You need ESPN Select ($11.99/mo) or ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/mo) to watch live events and on-demand content. Free highlights and some articles don’t require a subscription. AirPlay itself is free on all Apple devices.
#What iPhone do I need for ESPN AirPlay?
The current ESPN app requires iOS 16 or later, which means iPhone 8 or newer. Older iPhones that can’t run iOS 16 won’t work with the latest ESPN app. AirPlay 2 has been available since iOS 11.4, but the app itself sets the floor at iOS 16.
#Can I use a wired connection instead of AirPlay?
Yes. Use a USB-C Digital AV adapter (for iPhone 15 and newer) with an HDMI cable. Zero latency, no Wi-Fi needed.
For iPhone 14 and older, use a Lightning Digital AV adapter instead. Either option costs about $49 for the adapter plus the HDMI cable.
#Which is better for ESPN: AirPlay or the native TV app?
The native ESPN app on your smart TV or streaming device gives better picture quality because there’s no wireless compression. AirPlay adds a small amount of latency, which you might notice during fast-paced live sports. Use the native app on your streaming device when possible, and save AirPlay for when you want to quickly throw something from your phone to the TV. If you own a Vizio, check my guide on setting up AirPlay on Vizio TV for model-specific steps.