By 
Sports fans should expect a significant rate hike in not just attending events but in watching them.
ESPN plans to jack up the cost of its streaming service by 43% on Aug. 23 to cover the rocketing expense of sports rights without losing inflation-weary subscribers.
The cost of a monthly ESPN+ subscription will escalate to $9.99 a month from $6.99, or to $99.99 a year from $69.99.
A spokesman for Walt Disney Co.
DIS,
+3.29%,
which owns ESPN, told MarketWatch the price increase reflects the growing amount of live sports and original programming on the streaming service to cover 22,000 live events for the NFL, NHL, the PGA Tour, LaLiga, college sports and other sports, as well as original editorial content.
Disney shares were up 3.6% Friday.
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