Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Announce Name of New Sports-Streaming Venture

Disney/ESPN, Fox Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery have joined forces to create a new sports streaming bundle named Venu Sports. The CEO of Venu Sports, Pete Distad, expressed his excitement about the launch, stating that the platform will provide sports fans with a one-stop access to live games outside of the traditional pay TV ecosystem.

The partnership, announced in February, aims to cater to consumers who do not subscribe to pay TV and is set to debut in the fall of 2024. Distad, a former Apple executive, has been appointed to lead the venture from the Venu Sports offices in Los Angeles.

Venu Sports will combine ESPN+ with the linear TV networks of the three companies, offering a wide range of sports programming. Despite not announcing pricing or a specific launch date, the venture has already sparked interest and speculation among industry insiders.

However, the joint venture has faced scrutiny from the Justice Department and leading congressional Democrats over anticompetitive concerns. Streaming TV provider Fubo even filed a federal lawsuit to block the launch, alleging violations of antitrust laws.

Despite the challenges, Venu Sports remains determined to provide a top-notch product for sports fans. The platform will be available directly to consumers via a new app, with the option to bundle it with other popular streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, or Max.

As the sports streaming landscape continues to evolve, Venu Sports is poised to make a significant impact with its innovative approach to delivering live sports content to a wider audience.