Google Adds Chromecast Apps From ESPN, Major League Soccer And More

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) on Tuesday announced that several new apps are adding support for Chromecast, the company's popular Wi-Fi streaming dongle.

Sports coverage from ESPN and Major League Soccer were added to Chromecast through an update in the organization's mobile apps -- good timing with the World Cup just days away.

Updated iOS and Android apps for the company’s social network, Google+, as well as Crunchyroll, a service providing Manga and other Japanese media, also added support for Chromecast. Google+ support enables Chromecast owners to cast personal photos and videos to their televisions for free, whereas Crunchyroll, WatchESPN and MLS all require paid accounts.

At $35, Chromecast has been one of the best-selling electronics devices on Amazon.com since its release last year. The dongle, which is less expensive than competing devices from Roku and Apple TV, is now compatible with Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), HBO GO, Hulu Plus, YouTube and MLB.tv, Major League Baseball’s streaming service.

One notable exception from the Chromecast is support for Amazon Prime Instant Video. The streaming video service, which is provided at no additional cost to customers who pay for the company’s Prime membership, isn't available on Chromecast, and Google employees have said that Amazon has no plans to bring it to the device.

Amazon in April began selling Fire TV, a set-top box that streams Netflix, Prime Instant Video and Hulu Plus, which it says will add HBO GO support in the fall. Amazon sells Fire TV for $99 on its website, as well as in retail stores such as Best Buy (NYSE:BBY).