New sports streaming service Venu Sports announced

Pete Distad, CEO of the forthcoming sports streaming service jointly owned by ESPN, Fox Corporation, and Warner Bros. Discovery, this week unveiled the official brand name and logo for the platform: Venu Sports.

The traditional way of watching live sports has been through cable or satellite television subscriptions that bundle multiple channels, including sports networks. However, the trend in recent years has seen a rise in cord-cutting, where viewers cancel traditional pay-TV services and turn to streaming platforms for their entertainment needs. This shift has created a growing market for sports streaming services that cater specifically to sports fans.

Venu Sports aims to fill a gap in the sports streaming market by offering a comprehensive package for fans who are not subscribers to traditional pay-TV services. According to a press release from The Walt Disney Company, Venu Sports will leverage the combined sports content portfolios of the three partnering companies:

• ESPN (a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company)
• Fox Sports
• Warner Bros. Discovery (including content from Turner Sports)

This extensive library is expected to encompass major professional sports leagues and college athletics, catering to a broad range of sports fans.

Venu Sports is currently scheduled to launch in the fall of 2024 in the United States. The service will be available directly to consumers through a dedicated app, with the option for potential bundling with other streaming services owned by the partner companies, such as Disney+, Hulu, or Max (formerly HBO Max).

Impact on the Sports Streaming market

The arrival of Venu Sports adds another competitor to the growing sports streaming landscape. Existing platforms like fuboTV, YouTube TV, and DAZN already offer sports packages, while ESPN+ caters specifically to ESPN content. The success of Venu Sports will depend on several factors, including:

• Content Depth and Exclusivity: The comprehensiveness of its sports content library compared to competitors, and whether it offers exclusive content not available elsewhere.
• Pricing Strategy: The pricing structure for the service and its potential bundling options with other streaming services.
• User Experience: The ease of use and functionality of the Venu Sports app across various devices.

The announcement of Venu Sports comes amidst a legal challenge from fuboTV, a competitor in the sports streaming space. FuboTV filed an antitrust lawsuit in February 2024 against Disney, Fox Corporation, and Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging that the creation of Venu Sports stifles competition by consolidating sports content rights under one entity. The outcome of this lawsuit could potentially impact the launch and operation of Venu Sports.

The announcement of Venu Sports as the official brand name for the upcoming sports streaming service from a consortium of major media companies represents a significant development in the sports streaming market. With its potential for a vast content library and the backing of established media players, Venu Sports has the potential to become a major player in the industry. However, its success hinges on its ability to deliver a compelling content offering, competitive pricing, and a user-friendly platform to attract and retain sports fans who have transitioned away from traditional pay-TV subscriptions. Additionally, the legal challenge from fuboTV regarding potential antitrust violations is a factor to consider as Venu Sports prepares for launch.