Warner Bros Discovery announced that they have recently partnered with FOX, ESPN, and Disney for the launch of a new sports-based streaming service this Fall in the United States.
ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery Forming Joint Venture to Launch Streaming Sports Service in the U.S.
Will Bring Together Sports Linear Networks and Direct-to-Consumer Service ESPN+
Offering to include NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, College Sports, UFC, PGA TOUR Golf, Grand Slam Tennis, the FIFA World Cup, Cycling and Much More
The Service will be offered through a New Standalone App, Built from the Ground Up, for the Passionate Sports Fan
ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery have reached an understanding on principal terms to form a new Joint Venture (JV) to build an innovative new platform to house a compelling streaming sports service. The platform brings together the companies’ portfolios of sports networks, certain direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services and sports rights – including content from all the major professional sports leagues and college sports. The formation of the pay service is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements amongst the parties. The offering, scheduled to launch in the fall of 2024, would be made available directly to consumers via a new app. Subscribers would also have the ability to bundle the product, including with Disney+, Hulu and/or Max.
The platform would aggregate content to offer fans an extensive, dynamic lineup of sports content, aiming to provide a new and differentiated experience to serve sports fans, particularly those outside of the traditional pay TV bundle.
By subscribing to this focused, all-in-one premier sports service, fans would have access to the linear sports networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV, as well as ESPN+.
Key Highlights:
ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery would form a new joint venture to develop, launch and operate a streaming sports bundle of linear networks and certain DTC sports content and services.
Each entity would own one-thirdof the JV, have equal board representation and license their sports content to the joint venture on a non-exclusive basis.
The service would have a new brand with an independent management team.
Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company said, “The launch of this new streaming sports service is a significant moment for Disney and ESPN, a major win for sports fans, and an important step forward for the media business. This means the full suite of ESPN channels will be available to consumers alongside the sports programming of other industry leaders as part of a differentiated sports-centric service. I’m grateful to Jimmy Pitaro and the team at ESPN, who are at the forefront of innovating on behalf of consumers to create new offerings with more choice and greater value.”
Lachlan Murdoch, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of FOX said, “We’re pumped to bring the FOX Sports portfolio to this new and exciting platform. We believe the service will provide passionate fans outside of the traditional bundle an array of amazing sports content all in one place.”
David Zaslav, Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, said “At WBD, our ambition is always to connect our leading content and brands with as many viewers as possible, and this exciting joint venture and the unparalleled combination of marquee sports rights and access to the greatest sporting events in the world allows us to do just that. This new sports service exemplifies our ability as an industry to drive innovation and provide consumers with more choice, enjoyment and value and we’re thrilled to deliver it to sports fans.”
More details, including pricing, will be announced at a later date.
The new service will showcase thousands of high-profile sporting events including:
PRO FOOTBALL
NFL | UFL
BASKETBALL
NBA | WNBA
BASEBALL
MLB
HOCKEY
NHL
COLLEGE SPORTS
Thousands of games and events, multiple sports, across nearly two dozen conferences, including: ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, SEC | 40 NCAA Championship Events | NCAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournaments | The College Football Playoff
GOLF
PGA Tour | PGA Championship | The Masters | TGL
GRAND SLAM TENNIS
Wimbledon | US Open | Australian Open
CYCLING
Giro d’Italia | UCI Mountain Bike World Cup | Giro Donne
SOCCER
FIFA World Cup | U.S. Soccer NWSL | MLS | LALIGA | Bundesliga | UEFA | CONCACAF
COMBAT SPORTS
UFC | Top Rank
AUTO
Formula 1 | NASCAR | 24 Hours of Le Mans
Variety reported that their sources stated that WBD, FOX, and Disney will own a third of this new upcoming streaming service and will be licensing their sports content to it on a non-exclusive basis. It was reported that content for this new service will also air on their traditional television networks for non-subscribers.
CNBC’s Alex Sherman reported that his sources stated that this upcoming new service could have a starting price tag of $45-$50 per month for subscriptions.
In regards to AEW, the Wrestling Observer’s Josh Nason reported that AEW’s Dynamite, Collision, and Rampage series would be included in this new service should they remain on WBD networks for a new television deal. AEW’s current deal with WBD expires at the end of 2024.
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