Disney Plus Now Streaming This Year’s Super Bowl
The Mouse is making moves in the sports streaming arena. Disney and ESPN have teamed up with the NFL to bring Super Bowl LXI to screens on Sunday, February 14, 2027. Fortunately, this isn’t an exclusive deal, as the game will also be available on ESPN and ABC, marking the first time ESPN will produce the Super Bowl. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will handle the commentary, with Liza Salters and Laura Rutledge reporting from the sidelines.
In line with the NFL’s efforts to reach a global audience, Disney Plus will stream the Super Bowl in over 55 international markets. This season, NFL games are being played in countries like Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, the U.K., and Mexico, with Disney Plus set to stream the Super Bowl in several of these locations, including Australia and Brazil.
The competition for sports streaming rights has intensified in recent years, as platforms seek to capture a slice of this lucrative market, which remains a stronghold for cable. Disney Plus is joining the fray with its first three football games this year. Alongside the Super Bowl, Disney Plus has secured two Monday Night Football games, which will also be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.
The first game features a showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 26. These NFC East rivals are both currently sitting at 2-2, making this matchup crucial for determining the division leader (the top team in each division secures a playoff spot, while others vie for a Wild Card position). The second game on Disney Plus has yet to be announced.
In recent seasons, platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, and Peacock have also streamed NFL games. Prime Video is exclusively airing most of this year’s Thursday Night Football games, while Peacock is streaming several matchups, including an exclusive Week 17 game. Netflix has five games lined up, including the Christmas clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.
The rivalry between streaming services and traditional TV has made sports viewership more complex, leaving fans frustrated as they often need multiple subscriptions and cable to catch all the action. For example, Thursday Night Football is now primarily available on Prime Video. At least the Super Bowl will still be accessible via cable in addition to Disney Plus.
According to Ampere Analysis, streaming services are projected to spend $14.2 billion on sports rights in 2026, reflecting a 7% increase from the previous year. Prime Video is at the forefront, accounting for 27% of that expenditure (partly due to its Thursday Night Football offerings), while Paramount Plus holds 8%, and Netflix claims 5%. As entertainment costs continue to rise, sports fans are feeling the pinch too, with Disney Plus recently increasing its subscription prices.
