• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

ESPN+ Subscribers Face 15-Month Wait for The Last Dance

  • Cord-cutters are out of luck if they want to watch the Michael Jordan Bulls documentary.
  • Distribution arrangements were made before ESPN+’s debut, meaning ESPN+ subscribers won’t get ‘The Last Dance’ for 15 months.
The Last Dance ESPN
ESPN Films

Sports networks have found a solution that could both satisfy existing customers desperate for live sports and hopefully lure back cord-cutters in the process: can’t-miss programming they won’t find anywhere else. 

It’s easier said than done, but that’s the distribution strategy ESPN is taking with its highly acclaimed Michael Jordan documentary, ‘The Last Dance.’

The network is airing an unedited version on ESPN, and an edited version on ESPN2 with more mature language removed, every Sunday night through May 17 (9-11 p.m. ET). 

Once each new episode premieres, it’s available to authenticated subscribers on the ESPN app, ESPN.com, and ESPN On Demand. ESPN re-airs the previous episodes every Sunday night.

But if you’re a cord-cutter that doesn’t get ESPN, you’re out of luck. Even subscribers to the new ESPN+ streaming service, who pay $4.99 a month or $49.99 annually, won’t get the documentary for another 15 months. 

That is because of distribution arrangements for ‘The Last Dance’ that were completed ahead of ESPN+’s launch in April 2018.

Starting in mid-July, Netflix will have the U.S. rights to the documentary for a year. That means ESPN+ subscribers won’t get it until July 2021. Netflix also gets international rights to each episode the day after it premieres.

ESPN declined to comment for this story.

However, the setup has caused some frustration among cord-cutters left out of the conversation. ‘The Last Dance’ was the No. 1 most talked-about program on social media Sunday, with over 4 million interactions across Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Cord-cutters will increasingly find themself paying more across the board for content in the modern sports media ecosystem than perhaps they used to pay to get it one place, said Patrick Crakes, the former Fox Sports executive turned media consultant.

“[ESPN] has some 80 million-plus homes – so they’re going to distribute there,” Crakes said. “You decided you didn’t want that. So you got out, and you’re saving $30 bucks a month. Congratulations. But now here’s a piece of content where you have to wait until July if you’re a Netflix subscriber. Or wait a year and a half for it to get to ESPN+. But eventually, you’ll get it.”

READ MORE: ESPN Invokes The Force of Disney To Market Michael Jordan Doc

However, ESPN’s strategy likely has more to do with keeping existing subscribers happy, said Joseph Mahan, chairman of the department of sports & recreation management at Temple University/s School of Sports, Tourism and Hospitality Management. 

“I’m not sure this strategy is about getting cord-cutters to come back; I think that ship has sailed, and one documentary isn’t going to get them to subscribe to cable again,” said Mahan.

“It’s more about pushing a show to content-starved cable subscribers. Subscriber fees are still a revenue-generator for ESPN, and there is almost zero novel sports content right now. This allows them to cater to that group. Given the ratings thus far, it would seem that it is a prudent approach.”

During normal times, ESPN’s programming would depend almost exclusively on live NFL, NBA, MLB, and MLS games. But these are anything but. The highly-acclaimed 10-part documentary about the rise and fall of the Chicago Bulls NBA dynasty has stepped into the void as the kind of programming that ESPN hopes will justify a subscription.

If customers get ESPN via their cable TV package or the ESPN app, there’s plenty of ways to watch and re-watch ‘The Last Dance.” The first four episodes of ‘The Last Dance’ have averaged 6 million viewers, making it ESPN’s most-watched documentary ever. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL and College Football TV Ratings Continue to Surge, Especially for CBS

The network’s singleheader coverage Sunday drew huge viewership.

MLB’s Rare October Day: Four Playoff Games, Four Possible Clinchers

Four separate clinching opportunities are available during the day.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.
YouTube/Le Batard Show

Stugotz Says He’s on Le Batard Show ‘a Bunch’ in Next 30..

Stugotz hasn’t appeared on Le Batard’s show in months.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Josh McCray (2) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) in the second half at Sanford Stadium.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

College Football Viewership Is Up Double Digits. Here’s Why

Average game viewership is up by more than 10% so far.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
The NBC Sports broadcast team works Michigan State's football game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2025

NBC Sports, Peacock Stay on YouTube TV With Long-Term Deal

The broad-based agreement keeps NBC channels with the key distributor.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October 1, 2025

Alabama-Georgia Draws 10.4M Viewers, Drives Record CFB Season Pace

ABC drew 10.4 million viewers for Alabama-Georgia.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) pulls down a touchdown reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
September 24, 2025

Packers-Cowboys Game Is Getting Super Bowl–Like NBC Treatment

The network will bring its pregame show to Dallas.
Sep 18, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) reacts as the Fever defeat the Atlanta Dream during game three of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gateway Center Arena at College Park.
September 19, 2025

Fever Upset of Dream Brings Ratings Boost to WNBA Semis

The Indiana Fever will face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.