ESPN, FOX, Warner Bros. Discovery Align for Sports Streamer

ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery are forming a joint venture to launch a sports streamer that will combine their portfolios of sports networks and some DTC assets.

The new service is targeted for a fall 2024 launch via a new stand-alone app, with the ability to bundle that subscription with Disney+, Hulu and/or Max. It would deliver access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS and truTV, as well as ESPN+.

Each entity will own a third of the joint venture, with equal board representation, and license their sports content to the joint venture on a non-exclusive basis.

Bob Iger, CEO 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 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.”

David Zaslav, CEO 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.”

Pricing will be announced in due course. The platform will feature NFL and UFL football, NBA and WNBA basketball, MLB coverage, NHL, a raft of college sports, the PGA Tour, Wimbledon and the US Open, the FIFA World Cup, Bundelisga, Formula 1 and more.