In a major announcement for sports fans, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox have revealed their plans to team up and create a new joint sports streaming service, according to THR. The partnership will see the three companies become equal partners in an as-yet-unnamed platform that will combine streaming sports rights and offer live linear channels such as ESPN, ABC, Fox, TNT, and TBS. The platform will also provide games and other rights from all three companies on a non-exclusive basis, allowing them to continue launching their own offerings.
Each company will own a third of the new venture, and although a final agreement is still pending, one has been set in principle. The service will be directly available to consumers and will also be offered as a bundle with Max, ESPN+, and/or Hulu. The pricing for the service has not yet been determined, but it is expected to launch in the fall, just in time for the 2024-2025 NFL season.
According to THR, the new service will not interfere with ESPN’s plans for its own direct-to-consumer streaming service. Instead, it will function as a focused bundle of streaming networks primarily centered around sports rights, rather than entertainment. The platform will have rights to various sports events, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football and basketball, FIFA World Cup, three of the Grand Slam tennis events, the UFC, Formula 1, and NASCAR. Additionally, it will mark the first time Fox’s live sports offerings will be available on streaming platforms.
While the announcement does not specifically mention AEW or professional wrestling, the deal could potentially hold significance for wrestling fans as Warner Bros. Discovery is AEW’s broadcast partner.
Disney’s Bob Iger expressed his excitement about the venture, stating, 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. Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of Fox, added, 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. WBD CEO David Zaslav echoed their enthusiasm, noting, 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.
The joint effort between these media powerhouses promises to revolutionize the way sports content is delivered to viewers, offering a wide array of events and channels all in one convenient platform. With the fall launch on the horizon, fans can look forward to an enhanced and streamlined sports viewing experience.
