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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.