ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery are partnering up to launch a new sports streaming service in the United States. The new joint venture will bring together popular linear sports networks and the direct-to-consumer ESPN+ streaming service.
The Walt Disney Company, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery have only announced their plan for a new service, with the current goal being to launch the new sports streaming service and platform in the fall of 2024. Speaking of the platform, the new streaming service will arrive via a completely new standalone app, which will apparently be built from the ground up.
As this will be a standalone service and app, consumers will need to sign up for a standalone subscription. However, it was also confirmed that it will also be possible to bundle the sports streaming service with Disney+, Hulu and/or Max.
Once available, it looks like subscribers will get access to a very compelling sports product. Not only will subscribers get access to linear sports networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV, but they also get access to to the ESPN+ streaming service and content.
All of which means subscribers will be able to watch the sports portfolios of all three companies, and content from all the major professional sports leagues and college sports, including NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, College Sports, UFC, PGA TOUR Golf, Grand Slam Tennis, the FIFA World Cup, Cycling and more.
In terms of the business side of the arrangement, each company will own one-third of the joint venture, and have equal representation on a new brand with an independent management team. Sports content will also be licensed to the joint venture on a non-exclusive basis.
“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,” said Lachlan Murdoch, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Fox.
At present, it remains unclear how much the new sports streaming service will cost at launch.
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