ESPN, Fox, and Warner Brothers have announced their collaboration on a new streaming service that is set to launch later this year. The service will focus on live game broadcasts from 15 different networks, covering all major sports leagues.
According to Fox CEO and Executive Chair Lachlan Murdoch, the service aims to cater to passionate fans who are not subscribed to traditional cable bundles. Murdoch expressed his belief that the service will offer an incredible range of sports content in one convenient platform.
The lineup for the service includes 15 channels, such as ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN 2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ABC, Fox, FS1, FS2, Big 10 Network, TNT, TBS, and TruTV. It will cover a wide range of leagues, including the NBA, NFL, NHL, WNBA, MLB, NASCAR, and college sports like the NCAA tournaments. Additionally, tennis, golf, and the FIFA World Cup will also be featured.
Consumers will have the option to subscribe directly through the app and can choose to bundle the service with Disney+, Hulu, or Max. CNBC estimates that the monthly price for the service will range between $45 and $50. Comparatively, subscribing to each streaming service individually (ESPN+, Fox, and Warner Brothers) would cost a total of $25.98 per month.
Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger expressed his excitement about the launch of this new streaming sports service. He believes it is a significant milestone for Disney and ESPN, benefiting sports fans and advancing the media industry. Iger stated that the service will provide consumers with access to the full suite of ESPN channels, along with sports programming from other industry leaders, creating a unique and sports-centric experience.
Disney has been actively seeking a strategic partner for ESPN, and discussions have taken place between Iger and sports leagues to explore potential minority investments. This partnership aims to enhance ESPN’s streaming capabilities and strengthen its position in the market.