As WWE’s Royal Rumble event draws near this Saturday, attention turns once again to the availability of ESPN Unlimited, particularly for two major pay-TV providers in the U.S.: Comcast and YouTube TV. Both platforms currently lack access to ESPN’s premium programming tier, leaving subscribers seeking options for the upcoming event.
A representative from Comcast confirmed that Xfinity users will soon have access to ESPN Unlimited “in the coming weeks.” However, those Xfinity customers hoping to watch the Royal Rumble will need to explore alternative viewing methods for now, though the wait for access appears to be nearing an end.
In contrast, the timeline for when YouTube TV will offer ESPN Unlimited remains uncertain, and attempts to obtain clarity from a YouTube TV spokesperson were unsuccessful. Delays in access have primarily stemmed from technical challenges related to accommodating a surge of new users onto the platform. According to sources familiar with the situation, ESPN is ready on its end, but both Comcast and YouTube TV still need to finalize their processes.
ESPN Unlimited, which launched last August as part of the new ESPN app, aims to provide subscribers with comprehensive access to all of ESPN’s offerings. The concept was to ensure that anyone subscribing to ESPN—whether through traditional cable, satellite, or virtual alternatives—would also have access to the Unlimited tier. This includes linear channels, live content previously exclusive to ESPN+, and a wide array of original programming.
Unfortunately, many subscribers using Comcast and YouTube TV to access ESPN are currently unable to take advantage of these features, despite the fact they are paying for ESPN through their bundled services. Combined, these two platforms represent nearly 25 million pay TV subscribers, which is around 40% of all households with pay TV in the U.S. Both have engaged in long-term agreements with ESPN that facilitate ESPN Unlimited access for their customers, yet technical hurdles have delayed full access for months.
Recent programming changes have further underscored the frustrations of subscribers. ESPN has shifted several major events, such as important Australian Open tennis matches, to the Unlimited tier, leaving fans of various sports, including those anticipating WWE events, without access to content that they expect as part of their subscriptions.
The silver lining is that Comcast customers will soon gain the access they’ve been waiting for, which bodes well for the future rollout of ESPN Unlimited across all platforms. This development holds promise for resolving the frustration experienced by many loyal ESPN subscribers in the coming weeks.