Venu Sports
Type of business | Joint venture |
---|---|
Type of site | OTT video streaming platform |
Area served | United States |
Owner |
|
Key people | Pete Distad ( CEO) |
URL | venu |
Current status | Proposed |
Venu Sports, or simply Venu, is a proposed
Venu would bundle virtually all of the U.S. national sports broadcast rights controlled by the three companies in a single subscription, with limited entertainment and news content. The service would be available as a standalone product, or sold as part of a bundle with one of the companies' other streaming platforms like Disney+, Hulu, or Max.
The joint venture partners have said Venu would be specifically targeted to
Content
The service is expected to function similarly to a virtual MVPD in that it will carry almost all of the three companies' English-language U.S. linear broadcast and cable channels that offer sports content, including local stations and affiliates of the ABC and Fox broadcast networks (subject to the participation of the affiliates' owners);[1] general sports channels ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FS1, and FS2; college sports channels ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, and SEC Network; and the three primary WBD cable networks that carry sports coverage: TBS, TNT, and TruTV.[2] It will also include access to the content of Disney's existing direct-to-consumer sports service ESPN+.[3]
The streaming service will provide access to the same sports events that are
However, the service will not provide access to sports events controlled by
The companies have stated that all programming will be offered on a non-exclusive basis, as the channels and content will continue to be made available through existing TV providers and/or the companies' respective standalone services.[5] In March 2024, an executive with Nexstar Media Group said independent broadcasters who own ABC and Fox network affiliates will be paid for distribution of their channels on the platform, which will be on an "opt-in" basis, suggesting some parts of the country might not have access to their ABC and/or Fox affiliate at launch.[1]
While subscribers will be able to watch any entertainment and news programming that regularly airs on these channels in addition to sports, the service will not carry other channels owned by these companies that are typically included in cable bundles, such as CNN or Fox News.[6] However, in situations where sports broadcasts are carried by the companies' other channels, those channels may be carried temporarily as "pop-up channels", using a concept that is common in Europe but relatively rare in the United States.[7]
Branding
The initial announcement indicated the service would have a "new brand", though that brand was not identified immediately. Within the three companies, the project was initially known by the internal code name "Raptor".[8]
In the absence of an announced name, several media analysts and news reports used the shorthand names "Hulu for Sports" and "Spulu", both alluding to general entertainment streaming service Hulu and its original joint venture ownership structure.[9][10][11][12] At one point, the partners were reportedly considering making "Hulu Sports" the official name of the service, which would brand the service as an extension of Hulu (now controlled by Disney) despite having separate management.[7]
On May 16, 2024, the service's branding was announced as Venu Sports, or simply Venu.[13]
Distribution
Venu will be available individually through a new bespoke app, or as part of a bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and/or Max.[5] In May 2024, Disney and WBD separately announced plans to launch a bundle of the three latter services, but have not yet specifically addressed the possibility of a four-way bundle with Venu.[14]
As of May 2024[update], pricing for the service has not yet been announced, however reports have indicated that the regular price per month would be higher than
Management, regulatory and legal concerns
The service will be overseen by a separate management team at arms-length from the three partners.[4] On March 15, 2024, the partners announced that former Apple and Hulu executive Pete Distad would serve as the service's first CEO.[15]
On May 16, 2024, alongside the announcement of the "Venu Sports" branding, a placeholder website for the service launched, initially operated by a subsidiary of Fox named Rookie Enterprises LLC. At that point, the partners had yet to finalize their joint venture agreements, and noted that the launch of Venu was contingent on "receiving regulatory approval".[16]
The formation of the joint venture will not, according to the companies, affect their respective plans to compete with each other for sports broadcast rights going forward, nor will the joint-venture service seek any exclusive rights of its own.
Nonetheless, traditional cable and satellite providers are reviewing the plans in regards to whether they may violate
The existing sports-focused vMVPD FuboTV also expressed concerns following the announcement about the venture's impact on "fair market competition".[17] On February 20, FuboTV filed an antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking either to block the venture entirely, or for the court to alternatively impose economic and licensing restrictions.[19] Satellite TV providers DirecTV and Dish Network both filed briefs in support of Fubo's suit in April.[8] A subsequent letter to congressional leaders requesting hearings into the service was co-signed by all three providers as well as groups including the Electronic Frontier Foundation.[20]
The United States Department of Justice stated that it plans to review the terms of the joint venture once it is finalized.[21] Separately, Rep. Jerry Nadler, the ranking member of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary, and Rep. Joaquin Castro submitted a letter to Disney, Fox, and WBD on April 16 seeking answers on the impact the new service would have on competition and pricing. The owners were given two weeks from the letter's date to respond.[22]
References
- ^ a b Keys, Matthew (March 12, 2024). "Some local Fox and ABC affiliates might not be available on "Spulu" sports streamer". The Desk. Archived from the original on March 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ Frankel, Daniel (February 6, 2024). "Why 'Re-bundling Has to Happen': Breaking Down the New ESPN, Turner and Fox Sports Streaming JV". NextTV. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c Sherman, Alex (February 2, 2024). "New sports streaming bundle could be a 'monster' — or a dud. Here are the biggest remaining questions". CNBC. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Lafayette, Jon (February 6, 2024). "TV Giants Team Up for Sports Comeback vs. Streamers". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Hayes, Dade (February 6, 2024). "Disney, Fox And Warner Bros. Discovery Team On Sports Streaming Venture". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Mullin, Benjamin; Draper, Kevin (February 6, 2024). "Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Join Forces for Sports Streaming Service". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Keys, Matthew (February 15, 2024). "Exclusive: Fox-ESPN-WBD sports service could be called Hulu Sports". The Desk. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Manfredi, Lucas (April 11, 2024). "DirecTV, Dish Network Back Fubo in Disney-Fox-WBD Sports Streaming Legal Fight". TheWrap. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ Frankel, Daniel (February 15, 2024). "Pay TV Companies, and the DOJ, Push Back on Big 'Spulu' Sports Streaming Joint Venture". NextTV. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ "Downstream #62: Spulu" (Podcast). February 9, 2024. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ Jacobson, Adam (February 9, 2024). "Key Analysts Chime In on 'Hulu For Sports' Plan". Radio & Television Business Report. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ Pierce, David (March 18, 2024). "If 'Hulu for Sports' works, this guy could be the next Disney CEO". The Verge. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ Bouma, Luke (May 16, 2024). "The New Fox, Disney, & Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Streaming Gets an Official Name". Cord Cutters News. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ Koblin, John (May 8, 2024). "Disney, Hulu and Max Streaming Bundle Will Soon Become Available". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ White, Peter (March 15, 2024). "Pete Distad Named CEO Of Disney, Fox & Warner Bros. Discovery's Sports Streaming Service". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (May 16, 2024). "Disney, Fox and WBD Unveil Name of Sports-Streaming Venture: Venu Sports". Variety. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Hayes, Dade (February 7, 2024). "Streaming Pay-TV Service Fubo, After Its Stock Tumbles 23%, Blasts New Disney-Fox-WBD Sports Bundle: "Every Consumer In America Should Be Concerned"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Sherman, Alex (February 15, 2024). "Pay TV distributors may be planning their attack against new sports joint venture". CNBC. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (February 20, 2024). "Fubo Sues Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery Over Their Planned Sports Streaming Venture, Alleging It Violates Antitrust Law". Variety. Archived from the original on February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ Roth, Emma (May 2, 2024). "Fubo wants Congress to look into WBD, ESPN, and Fox's sports streaming service". The Verge. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ Nylen, Leah; Shields, Todd (February 15, 2024). "Disney-Fox-Warner Streaming Deal Faces DOJ Antitrust Review". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (April 16, 2024). "U.S. Reps Raise Concerns That Disney, Fox, WBD Sports Streaming Venture Will Be Anticompetitive". Variety. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.