Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN, Fox Corp., and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. are teaming to create a joint streaming sports service.
The as-yet unnamed service, which could be available as early as the fall and offer a sort of Hulu for sports, comes amid an explosion in sports-streaming rights and audiences.
“The launch of this new streaming sports service is a significant moment for Disney
DIS,
and ESPN, a major win for sports fans, and an important step forward for the media business,” Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said in a statement late Tuesday. “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.”
Added Warner Bros.
WBD,
CEO David Zaslav: “This new sports service exemplifies our ability as an industry to drive innovation and provide consumers with more choice, enjoyment and value and we’re thrilled to deliver it to sports fans.”
Each company will own one-third of the product, according to Disney.
The service would have a new brand with an independent management team. More details, including pricing, will be announced later.
The new service will showcase thousands of high-profile sporting events from Fox’s
FOX,
broadcast and cable networks, Disney’s ABC and ESPN, and Warner’s TNT and TBS, and include all four major sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — as well as college football and basketball, golf, tennis, cycling, soccer and combat sports.
