ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery Announce New Sports Streaming Platform
In a move that could shake up the sports media landscape, ESPN, Fox Corp., and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced that they will be creating a joint streaming platform that will share the three company’s sports assets.
The new service will be available to Disney+, Hulu, and Max subscribers. Additionally, new consumers will be able to subscribe directly to the new platform.


Photo: The Street
The platform will be owned by a newly formed yet unnamed company with an independent leadership team. Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery will each own a one-third stake in the new entity.
An Impressive Roster of Channels
Creating a sports-centric streamer will allow fans to subscribe to a leaner package of cable networks than traditional cable.


Photo: ESPN
The new app will include Disney-owned ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, and the ABC broadcast network. ESPN+ will also be included.
Warner Bros. Discovery will contribute to TNT, TBS, and TruTV, while Fox will pitch in FS1, FS2, and the Big Ten Network.


Photo: Newscast Studio
“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,” Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said in a statement. “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.”
Will This Change Disney’s ESPN Plans?
The new venture comes when live sports rights are at a premium, even as cable subscribers dwindle. Ostensibly, the new streamer should help the networks when it comes to live sports rights negotiations.


Photo: ESPN
According to CNBC, the launch of the new product will not affect Disney’s plans to offer a full direct-to-consumer version of ESPN by next year.
Still, it is hard to see today’s announcement as anything other than a monumental shift in Disney’s plans.
What About the NFL?
The other shadow hanging over the new venture will be the NFL. Disney and the league were reportedly in negotiations on a deal that would see the NFL take a stake in the Worldwide Leader in Sports, while ESPN would take control of NFL MEDIA.


Photo: NFL
It could add the popular NFL Network to the new streaming platform channel roster if such a deal occurs.
While we will likely get more clarity into Disney’s vision of ESPN’s future in the coming days, one thing seems clear for now: As cable subscribers continue to fall off, ESPN and its new allies are gearing up for the advent of the sports streaming era.