ESPN App Now Allows Users to Watch Sports With Friends via SharePlay

• The ESPN app has added support for SharePlay, which lets users watch content with friends and family via FaceTime calls.
• This feature can be used across the entire ESPN app, including ESPN+ live streams, among others.
• ESPN SharePlay will be available only for iPhone and iPad users in the US for now.

Disney is bringing the shared viewing experience to ESPN app users via Apple's SharePlay feature. You can now watch live sports and on-demand original content in sync with your friends while on a FaceTime call. With the new update, people can use SharePlay across all content available on the ESPN app, including ESPN+ live streams, original content, and more.

By adding support for Apple's SharePlay on its app, ESPN will provide live sports fans a complete co-viewing experience - a first for Disney. The company said SharePlay will initially be available only for iPhone and iPad users in the US but will also roll out on Apple TV in an upcoming update later this month. This would be ideal for viewers who enjoy watching content on a larger screen and will allow them to share the moment in real-time with their close ones over a FaceTime call through their iPhones or iPads.

"We are thrilled to provide a unique opportunity for friends and family to come together to root for some of their favorite teams and players, no matter the distance between them," said Brian Marshall, Vice President of Sports Products & Strategy, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution. SharePlay sessions can host up to 32 people and allows each participant to choose audio and subtitles in their preferred language.

For this to work, they must all be logged on to the ESPN app through TV Everywhere credentials or be ESPN+ subscribers. Additionally, their devices should run iOS 15.1 or iPadOS 15.1 or later to use the feature.

ESPN now joins other media giants like Twitch and Tiktok, which integrated the SharePlay feature. It was first introduced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference held last year.

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