Sporting Superstars Light Up Sydney for ESPN on Disney+ Launch and NBA Playoffs Kick-Off

Rob Whittaker, Josh Green and Nick Kyrgios (Image courtesy of Disney+)

Sydney was buzzing with star power as some of the biggest names in sport and entertainment came together to celebrate the highly anticipated arrival of ESPN on Disney+, just in time for the start of the NBA Playoffs.

The glittering event drew a who’s who of sporting talent, including tennis sensation Nick Kyrgios, Aussie NBA standout Josh Green, and former UFC Middleweight Champion Rob Whittaker. Also spotted among the crowd were ESPN broadcasters Kane Pitman and Skubie Mageza, Matildas’ goalkeeper Lydia Williams, Olympic gold medal legend Steven Bradbury, Olympic boxer Tina Rahimi, and WBA Gold World Champion Linn Sandström.

Grace Hayden (Image courtesy of Disney+)

The evening wasn’t just a celebration of sport. Aussie actor Rodger Corser, entrepreneur and style icon Elle Ferguson, television presenter Grace Hayden, and comedy duo Nicholas Burton and David Hoey of Granny Flat Comedy also added their sparkle to the red carpet.

The excitement was all in honour of the new ESPN hub on Disney+, now available in Australia and New Zealand. The hub delivers more than 10,000 hours of live sports and entertainment, including full access to ESPN and ESPN2 channels, beloved studio shows like SportsCenter, NBA Today, First Take, and The Pat McAfee Show, as well as live events, replays, and the critically acclaimed 30 for 30 documentary series.

Kane Pitman & Skubie Mageza (Image courtesy of Disney+)

Australia and New Zealand are the first English-language markets outside North America to gain access to this new ESPN tile on Disney+, following its successful U.S. launch in December 2024.

This landmark addition further strengthens The Walt Disney Company’s content offering in the region, sitting proudly alongside blockbuster titles from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and the Star tile’s extensive General Entertainment catalogue, which includes FX, Searchlight, Hulu, and popular locally made originals like The Artful Dodger, Shipwreck Hunters Australia, and The Clearing.

With world-class sport now just a click away, fans across the country can get closer than ever to the action – and this launch proves that Sydney knows how to throw a party when the game’s on the line.