Media giants Fox, Walt Disney's ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced plans to collaborate on a new sports streaming service set to debut later this year.
According to CNBC, the joint venture, which will be owned equally by the three companies, aims to offer consumers a comprehensive platform for accessing live sports content like never before.
ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery Team Up
The streaming service is expected to provide a wide range of marquee live sports events, delivering an immersive experience to subscribers. While the platform's exact name and pricing details are still under wraps, it will be available for direct subscription via a dedicated app.
Additionally, subscribers can bundle the service with existing streaming platforms such as Disney+, Hulu, and Max. This collaboration between ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery represents a strategic move to capitalize on the growing demand for sports content in the digital streaming market.
According to ESPN, the new platform will bring together a diverse range of sports content, including major professional leagues and college sports coverage. This content aggregation will provide fans with an extensive sports programming lineup, catering to a wide audience beyond the traditional pay TV bundle.
Key features of the service include access to linear sports networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, Fox, FS1, FS2, TNT, TBS, and more, in addition to ESPN+.
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger Expresses Enthusiasm for the Partnership
Top executives from each company have expressed enthusiasm for the venture, highlighting its potential to redefine the sports streaming landscape. Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, described the service launch as a significant milestone for Disney and ESPN.
"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," Iger said in a press release.
"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," he added.
While no price has been determined yet, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC that the logical starting price could be $45 or $50 per month, while a second source added that even with introductory or promotional pricing, the service would likely cost more than $30 per month.
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