What Channel Is ESPN on DISH?

Every America’s Top package includes the entire ESPN channel group. You do not need to upgrade or add a sports tier to receive these channels — they come standard from the entry-level package upward.

Every America’s Top package carries ESPN. The difference between tiers is mostly what extra sports channels and entertainment networks get added on top. Sports fans who want NFL Network, NBA TV, or MLB Network need to step up from the base package.

The questions below cover the situations that cause the most confusion for DISH subscribers — from finding the channel after a reset to understanding what happens during a blackout. Written plainly, no jargon.

• 1
  What channel is ESPN on DISH Network? Channel 140 · ESPN2 is 143 · ESPNU is 141 · ESPNEWS is 142 · ESPN Alternate is 144–145 · All included with every standard package

  ESPN lives permanently at channel 140 on DISH Network — that number has not changed and is consistent across all U.S. markets. Unlike local broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, NBC) whose numbers vary by city, ESPN’s channel number is the same whether you’re in Maine or Arizona. Press 140 on your remote and you’ll land directly on ESPN. The rest of the ESPN family stacks neatly around it: ESPNU at 141 for college-focused coverage, ESPNEWS at 142 for round-the-clock scores and headlines, ESPN2 at 143 for overflow games and debate shows, and ESPN Alternate at 144 and 145 for big sports weekends when multiple live events air simultaneously. ESPN Deportes at 854 carries everything in Spanish and comes with DishLATINO packages. All of these are included at no extra cost in every America’s Top plan starting with the entry-level America’s Top 120 at $89.99 per month.
• 2
  Is ESPN included in a basic DISH package — or do I have to pay extra? ESPN is included in every standard DISH America’s Top package — no sports add-on required · The entry-level America’s Top 120 at $89.99/month carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, and ESPN Alternate

  This is one of the strongest selling points of DISH for sports viewers — ESPN does not sit behind a sports package upgrade the way it does with some cable providers. Every America’s Top plan, from the entry-level 120 tier straight through the premium 250 tier, carries the full ESPN family as a standard inclusion. You do not need to add a sports tier, a premium sports pack, or any special upgrade to access ESPN on DISH. The only ESPN-family channel that requires a specific package is ESPN Deportes, which comes with the DishLATINO lineup. Where DISH packages do differ on sports: NFL Network is not in the base America’s Top 120 — you need America’s Top 120+ or higher to get NFL Network, the SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and NBA TV. If those networks matter to your sports viewing, the 120+ package at $99.99/month is the smart move over the base tier.
• 3
  Can I watch ESPN on DISH when I’m away from home — traveling or at a family member’s house? Yes — use the DISH Anywhere app (free with your DISH subscription) or log into the ESPN app with your DISH account credentials · Works on phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs · Requires internet connection

  DISH subscribers can stream live ESPN programming away from home through two separate routes. The first is DISH Anywhere — the streaming companion app that comes included with any active DISH satellite subscription at no additional cost. Download it on iPhone, Android, iPad, or any web browser, sign in with your DISH account username and password, and you can watch live ESPN (and other DISH channels) on any device with a decent internet connection. The second route is the ESPN app itself, available on virtually every device. Open the ESPN app, select “Log In With TV Provider,” choose DISH Network from the list, and enter your DISH credentials. Once linked, you’re authenticated as a cable subscriber and can watch live ESPN programming through the ESPN app wherever you are. Both methods work at hotels, at a relative’s home, on a road trip, or anywhere with Wi-Fi. One practical note: some live sporting events have streaming restrictions based on your home market. If a game says it’s blacked out, it typically refers to your local market’s broadcast rights, not a technical problem with your account.
• 4
  ESPN disappeared from my DISH — the channel is gone or showing an error. What do I do? Step 1: Press 140 directly on the remote (don’t scroll to it) · Step 2: If it shows an error or black screen, reset your receiver by holding the power button on the receiver itself for 10 seconds · Step 3: Wait 5 minutes for restart · Step 4: If still missing, check dish.com for outage alerts or call DISH support

  When ESPN goes missing on DISH, the cause is almost always one of three things: a receiver that needs a reset, a satellite signal issue (often temporary — caused by heavy rain or repositioned dish), or an active channel dispute blackout. Start with the easiest fix first. Power off your DISH Hopper or receiver by pressing and holding the power button on the physical box for about 10 seconds until it shuts down, then let it restart fully — this takes 3 to 5 minutes. Once it’s back up, press 140 directly on the remote. If the channel comes back, the issue was a software glitch. If the screen shows a message like “Channel Not Authorized” or shows a notice about a programming dispute, check dish.com/blackout or call DISH at 1-800-333-3474 to find out if an active carriage dispute is affecting your area. During a legitimate blackout dispute, no amount of resetting will restore the channel — your only options are to wait for the dispute to resolve or temporarily watch ESPN through an alternate route like a live TV streaming service (see the streaming section of this guide).
• 5
  Does DISH carry ESPN+ (now called ESPN Select)? ESPN Select (the streaming service formerly called ESPN+) is NOT a separate satellite channel on DISH · It does not appear in DISH’s channel lineup · To get ESPN Select, you subscribe separately at espn.com for $12.99/month · DISH Anywhere and your DISH login unlock ESPN on the ESPN app — but that is different from ESPN Select content

  This confusion trips up a lot of subscribers. ESPN Select — the streaming subscription that used to be called ESPN+ — is a completely separate product from the ESPN cable channel that DISH carries at channel 140. ESPN Select content (things like LaLiga soccer, out-of-market NHL games, PGA Tour streaming, UFC events, and 30 for 30 documentaries) does not come through your satellite dish at all. It’s internet-only, accessed through the ESPN app or espn.com after paying a separate monthly subscription ($12.99/month or $129.99/year). Your DISH account does not include ESPN Select access, and using your DISH credentials to log into the ESPN app only authenticates you for the live ESPN cable channel — not for ESPN Select content. If you want both the live ESPN cable channel through your satellite and the ESPN Select streaming library, those are two separate subscriptions billed separately.
• 6
  What happens if DISH and Disney have another blackout — will I lose ESPN? Yes — a channel dispute blackout would temporarily remove ESPN and other Disney-owned channels from your DISH satellite lineup · This has happened before (2022, briefly) · DISH and Disney’s current contract expires in 2026 · During a blackout: watch ESPN through Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or a free antenna for ABC

  This is a real risk DISH subscribers should be prepared for. DISH and Disney have a history of contract disputes — most dramatically in October 2022, when ESPN and 20 other Disney-owned channels went dark on DISH for two days before a temporary agreement restored them. A new, larger dispute is active right now: Disney filed legal action against DISH in August 2025, and their current carriage contract is confirmed to expire sometime in 2026. If negotiations break down again, every ESPN channel (140, 141, 142, 143, 144) would go dark on DISH simultaneously. The most practical backup plan is Sling TV — the internet-based live TV service owned by DISH itself, which carries ESPN in its Orange package at $45.99/month and can be canceled anytime with no contract. During a DISH/Disney blackout, Sling TV typically maintains its own separate Disney agreement. Other streaming options during a blackout include Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV, both of which carry live ESPN. For ABC (a Disney-owned broadcast network), a simple HD antenna pulls the signal for free in virtually any location — no subscription needed.
• 7
  How do I get ESPN free for one month — what’s the best deal for new DISH customers? New DISH customers can get premium channels free for 3 months (months 2–4) with qualifying packages · The 2-Year Price Guarantee locks your bill for 24 months · A current offer gives $250 off America’s Top 200 or higher · No ESPN-specific free trial exists — ESPN comes standard with any DISH package

  There is no separate “ESPN free trial” on DISH because ESPN is simply part of every package rather than an optional add-on. What new customers do get is a promotional offer that varies by timing: DISH periodically offers 3 free months of premium channel packages (months 2, 3, and 4 of service) on America’s Top 200 and higher. A current promotion also provides $250 off the AT200 package or higher. The value proposition for DISH versus a streaming-only approach is the 2-Year Price Guarantee — your monthly bill stays locked at the promotional rate for 24 months, which cable and most streaming services don’t offer. The trade-off is the 2-year contract commitment, with a $20/month early termination fee if you cancel before the contract ends. For seniors and households on a fixed income who want stable predictable bills, that 2-year price lock is worth examining closely — rising streaming prices have made many people reconsider whether a locked-rate satellite subscription saves money over time compared to services that raise prices every year.
• 8
  What channel is ESPN2 on DISH — and why is there more than one ESPN? ESPN2 is channel 143 on DISH · Each ESPN channel has a specific role: ESPN (140) is the main broadcast · ESPN2 (143) handles overflow games and debate shows · ESPNU (141) focuses on college sports · ESPNEWS (142) runs sports news 24/7 · ESPN Alternate (144–145) activates during multi-game broadcasts

  ESPN operates a network of channels that work together as a system rather than competing. ESPN at channel 140 is the flagship — it carries the most watched games and highest-profile events, including Monday Night Football, marquee NBA games, and College GameDay. ESPN2 at channel 143 steps in when ESPN needs overflow capacity during busy weekends or carries its own lineup of debate programs (First Take, Around the Horn, Pardon the Interruption) and secondary sporting events like boxing and tennis. ESPNU at channel 141 focuses almost entirely on college athletics — primarily football and basketball games from conferences that don’t get main ESPN airtime — making it a steady source of content during college football Saturdays when dozens of games air simultaneously. ESPNEWS at channel 142 runs a continuous sports news format similar to what CNN does for general news: live score tickers, headlines, and studio updates around the clock. ESPN Alternate at channels 144 and 145 functions as a spill channel that activates automatically during major event weekends when the main ESPN feed switches to a different game than the one you were watching — tuning to 144 or 145 lets you continue following the original event on a parallel feed.

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