The news: ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery will launch a joint streaming service this year that will include each company’s sports content from linear TV, a bombshell agreement announced on Tuesday that will reshape the sports and streaming landscape.
The details: The yet-to-be-named streaming service will be operated by its own management team, with the three networks holding one-third ownership.
- Pricing information has not been revealed, but the venture will tap into a growing appetite for bundles: Consumers can sign up for the service directly via a new app, or they can bundle the service with Disney+, Hulu, and Max.
- The overlapping sports rights between the three partners include access to the most popular sports leagues in the US, including the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, college sports, and more.
With streaming costs ballooning, subscription growth slowing (outside of password sharing changes), and rights deals selling for billions, streamers have been under increased pressure to partner with their rivals to offer bundles and share the burden.
