• by Alex Weprin , January 23, 2019

ESPN+ is planning to bolster its library of original content.

ESPN says that it has hired Brian Lockhart to spearhead that content strategy as executive producer, ESPN+ originals.

Launched last April, ESPN+is Disney’s first major direct-to-consumer streaming service. The service emphasizes live sports, such as Major League Baseball and UFC, though it also includes some ESPN library content and original shows.

The hiring of Lockhart suggests the company plans to significantly scale up its original content for ESPN+, bolstering the value proposition and enticing subscribers to keep paying for the service month after month.

Lockhart joins ESPN+ from the NFL. Most recently, he was vice president, NFL Media’s original content group. He will report to Libby Geist, ESPN vice president-executive producer, ESPN Films and original content.

He will also work with other executives at the company and in Disney’s larger streaming group.

It has been a significant few weeks for ESPN+. The service debuted the first of its live UFC fights this past weekend, spurring  its single biggest day of signups ever. More than half a million new users joined the service to watch the matches.