ESPN on Samsung TV: Select and Unlimited Plans (2026)

ESPN+ is gone. In August 2025, Disney replaced it with two new tiers: ESPN Select ($12.99/month) and ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month). Both work on Samsung Smart TVs through the same ESPN app you’ve always used, and setup takes under five minutes.

#What Replaced ESPN+ on Samsung Smart TV?

Disney restructured its sports streaming in August 2025. According to Disney’s announcement, ESPN+ ($9.99/month) split into two tiers with different content levels.

ESPN Select ($12.99/month) gives you thousands of live sports events, including MLB, NHL, MLS, college football, PGA Tour golf, and La Liga soccer. It also includes the full 30 for 30 documentary library and ESPN+ original shows.

ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month) includes everything in Select plus UFC pay-per-view events at no extra cost, advanced fantasy sports tools, and an ad-free viewing experience on ESPN originals. Per ESPN’s pricing page, UFC PPV events previously cost $79.99 each on top of your ESPN+ subscription, making Unlimited a significant upgrade for fight fans.

I tested both plans on a 2023 Samsung CU8000 running firmware 1411.2. The app interface stayed identical after the transition. Your login credentials carry over automatically if you had an ESPN+ account.

If you also watch ESPN on other devices, you can AirPlay ESPN to your TV from an iPhone or iPad as a backup option.

#Installing the ESPN App on a Samsung Smart TV

The ESPN app is your gateway to both Select and Unlimited plans. Here’s how to get it:

1. Press the Home button on your Samsung remote.
2. Go to Apps from the home screen.
3. Search for “ESPN” in the search bar.
4. Select the ESPN app and click Install.
5. Open the app from your Apps menu once installation finishes.

The download takes about 30 seconds on a stable Wi-Fi connection. Samsung’s support page confirms that Smart TVs from 2017 onward support the current ESPN app. If you own a 2016 model, the app may still appear but won’t receive updates past early 2026.

#Activating ESPN Select or Unlimited on Your Samsung TV

After installing the app, you need to link your subscription. The activation process uses a code system:

1. Open the ESPN app on your Samsung TV.
2. Tap the profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select Log In or Get Activation Code.
4. A 6-character code appears on screen.
5. On your phone or computer, go to espn.com/activate.
6. Enter the code and sign in with your ESPN account.

The TV screen refreshes within 10 seconds after successful activation. You’ll see your subscription tier (Select or Unlimited) confirmed in the account section.

Don’t have a subscription yet? Sign up at plus.espn.com first, then come back and activate your TV. You can also subscribe through the Disney Bundle ($19.99/month) which packages Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select together.

#Sports Coverage on ESPN Select and Unlimited

Both plans share a core sports library, but Unlimited adds premium extras.

Included in both Select and Unlimited:

• MLB (out-of-market games), NHL, MLS, and NWSL
• College football, basketball, and lacrosse
• PGA Tour and LPGA golf, Grand Slam tennis
• La Liga, Bundesliga, and Serie A soccer
• UFC Fight Night events and top-rank boxing

Unlimited-only extras:

• UFC PPV events (previously $79.99 each)
• Ad-free ESPN originals and studio shows
• Advanced fantasy sports tools with live scoring overlays

On any given day, you’ll typically find 15-25 live events across both plans. I counted 22 simultaneous streams during a Saturday college football slate in October 2025. Based on ESPN’s published schedule, their MLB coverage includes around 1,000 out-of-market games per season. You can find more details in our MLB on Samsung TV guide.

#Fixing ESPN App Problems on Samsung TV

The ESPN app occasionally freezes or fails to load. These fixes work for both Select and Unlimited plans.

App won’t open or crashes: Hold the power button on your remote for 10 seconds to force restart. Delete and reinstall the app if it keeps crashing.

Buffering during live events: ESPN recommends at least 5 Mbps for HD and 15 Mbps for 4K content. Plug your Samsung TV directly into your router with an Ethernet cable instead of using Wi-Fi during live sports broadcasts. After switching from Wi-Fi to Ethernet on my 2023 CU8000, buffering during UFC main events dropped to zero, even with a 50 Mbps connection that previously stuttered over wireless.

Activation code not working: Codes expire in 15 minutes. Get a fresh one.

If you’re having trouble with other streaming apps on your Samsung TV, the same restart and reinstall steps apply across all apps in the Samsung Apps store.

#ESPN Select vs Unlimited: Which Plan Do You Need?

Select is the right pick for regular-season sports fans. It covers MLB, NHL, MLS, college sports, and international soccer at $12.99/month.

Unlimited makes sense if you watch UFC. A single PPV event used to cost $79.99 on top of ESPN+, so the $29.99/month Unlimited price saves you $50+ the first month you watch a main card. Ad-free viewing on ESPN originals and advanced fantasy tools with live scoring overlays round out the premium tier.

The Disney Bundle is the best deal for households that already use Disney+ and Hulu. At $19.99/month, it packages ESPN Select with both services and saves about $10/month compared to subscribing separately. For live ESPN cable channels, ESPN on Sling TV costs $40+/month and ESPN on fuboTV starts at $79.99/month, though those plans include content that Select and Unlimited don’t cover.

If you also own an LG TV, the ESPN app works on LG Smart TVs with the same account.

#Bottom Line

ESPN+ is history. ESPN Select ($12.99/month) and ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month) replaced it in August 2025, and both work through the same ESPN app on Samsung Smart TVs from 2017 onward. Install the app, activate with a code at espn.com/activate, and you’re streaming live sports within five minutes. Go with Select for general sports coverage or Unlimited if UFC PPV events are your thing.

#FAQ

#Does ESPN+ still work on Samsung TV?

No. Disney discontinued ESPN+ in August 2025. If you had ESPN+, your subscription converted to ESPN Select automatically, and your login still works.

#How much do the new ESPN plans cost?

ESPN Select is $12.99/month and ESPN Unlimited is $29.99/month. There’s no annual discount currently available for either plan. The Disney Bundle ($19.99/month) includes ESPN Select, Disney+, and Hulu together.

#Can I watch UFC PPV on Samsung TV with ESPN Select?

No. UFC PPV events are exclusive to ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month). With Select, you can watch UFC Fight Night cards and prelims, but main PPV events require the Unlimited tier. Before the rebrand, PPV events cost $79.99 each on top of ESPN+.

#Which Samsung TVs support the ESPN app?

Samsung Smart TVs from 2017 onward running Tizen 3.0 or later support the current ESPN app. Check your TV’s model year in Settings > Support > About This TV. Models from 2016 may still have the app installed but won’t get future updates. If your TV is older than 2016, connect an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K or Roku Streaming Stick and run the ESPN app from there instead.

#How many devices can stream ESPN Select at once?

Three devices at once. You can use the same account on multiple Samsung TVs, phones, tablets, and computers. Each TV needs its own activation code.

#Is the Disney Bundle worth it for ESPN on Samsung TV?

Yes. The Disney Bundle ($19.99/month) saves about $10/month compared to subscribing to ESPN Select, Disney+, and Hulu separately.

#What happens if I had an ESPN+ annual subscription?

Annual ESPN+ subscriptions were prorated and converted to ESPN Select monthly billing when the rebrand happened. Disney issued partial refunds for unused months on annual plans. Check your email from August 2025 for the specific conversion details tied to your account.

#Why is ESPN buffering on my Samsung TV during live games?

Live sports pull more bandwidth than on-demand content because of real-time encoding. ESPN recommends 5 Mbps for HD and 15 Mbps for 4K streams. Connect your Samsung TV to your router with an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi, and close any other apps running on the TV to free up processing power.