Disney Races to Keep Promises Made in Launch of ESPN Online (2)

Three weeks after ESPN launched an online version of its pay-TV network, parent Walt Disney Co. is racing to cut deals with cable providers so viewers can see all of what’s on the new service.

Called ESPN, the sports platform was launched with fanfare on Aug. 21, offering the TV network’s programming and more at no added cost to cable customers and $30 a month for others.

So far, however, only about half of US pay-TV customers are able to view the full slate of programming and are barred in particular from games and shows on ESPN+, a separate service ...