ESPN
Sports news, scores and streaming network owned by Disney.
ESPN at a glance
ESPN is a sports website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #22 in the country. It was founded in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen and is headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, United States. Today ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Company. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 580 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through advertising, subscription (espn+), licensing. Its closest rivals include foxsports.com, cbssports.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 545 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 563 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 580 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 615 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct45%
- Organic search30%
- Social16%
- Referral6%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men74%
- Women26%
- Age 18-2427%
- Age 25-3431%
- Age 35-4422%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 174 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| espn | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| live scores | Top 10 | High | — |
| match results | Top 10 | High | — |
| league table | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 83% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading sports apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- espn.com
- Sector
- Sports
- Owner
- The Walt Disney Company
- Owner type
- Subsidiary
- Founders
- Bill Rasmussen
- Founded
- 1979
- Headquarters
- Bristol, Connecticut, United States
- Employees
- 6,000+
- Ownership
- The Walt Disney Company controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $11B annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $11B annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
ESPN operates a sports media platform focused on United States. Sports news, scores and streaming network owned by Disney. Revenue comes mainly from advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Advertising
- Subscription (ESPN+)
- Licensing
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #22 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading sports site in United States
- Global rank
- 70
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| foxsports.com | ≈ 348 million / month | #23 class competitor | — |
| cbssports.com | ≈ 261 million / month | #24 class competitor | — |
What is ESPN?
ESPN (espn.com) is a sports media platform serving users in United States. Sports news, scores and streaming network owned by Disney. It ranks #22 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the sports category.
Who owns ESPN?
The site is operated by The Walt Disney Company, founded by Bill Rasmussen. The company was established in 1979 and is headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, United States. It employs around 6,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place ESPN at roughly 580 million visits per month, about 19.3 million per day. Around 83% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 4.8 pages per visit with an average session of 5 min.
How ESPN makes money
Revenue comes primarily from advertising, alongside subscription (espn+), licensing.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include foxsports.com, cbssports.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1979
ESPN is founded in Bristol, Connecticut, United States.
- Growth phase
Expands its sports offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #22 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Live scores and fast match reporting
- Deep coverage of national leagues
- Free access to most content
- Strong mobile and app experience
Cons
- Ad-heavy match pages
- Betting advertising throughout
- Rumour-driven transfer coverage
- Video rights limit highlights
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns ESPN?
ESPN is operated by The Walt Disney Company. Subsidiary structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is ESPN headquartered?
ESPN is headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut, United States.
When was ESPN founded?
ESPN was founded in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen.
How many employees does ESPN have?
ESPN employs approximately 6,000+ people.
What is ESPN's revenue?
ESPN's revenue: ≈ $11B annual revenue (est.).
Who are ESPN's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include foxsports.com, cbssports.com.
How does ESPN make money?
Mainly advertising, subscription (espn+), licensing.
Is ESPN publicly traded?
No — ESPN is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by The Walt Disney Company.
How many visitors does ESPN get?
Third-party estimates place ESPN at roughly 580 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 83% mobile traffic.
Is ESPN safe?
ESPN is an established sports site founded in 1979 and ranked #22 in United States; use the official domain espn.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsespn.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos