A new sports-streaming service, likened to Hulu for sports, is being launched by ESPN, FOX, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), with each company owning one-third. This service will provide subscribers with access to a wide array of linear sports networks, including ESPN channels, ABC, Fox networks, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV, and ESPN+, as well as all content that airs on these linear networks. Targeted at sports fans who have moved away from traditional cable, the service will be available to ESPN+, Hulu, and Max subscribers, and will be managed by an independent team. Non-exclusive licensing of sports content from the partner companies will be a feature of this service. While pricing is yet to be determined, it is anticipated to be announced at a later date, with expectations that it could be around or above $40 per month.
Disney domestic linear affiliate fees were ~$17 per sub per month in FY23. Add on ESPN+ at ~$11 per month. B/R add on is ~$10 per month, and that doesn't cover all WBD content. Fox ex News is another ~$6 per month. Will be very surprised if they launch this at <$40 per month. https://t.co/z8zuwgeSTl
Disney domestic linear affiliate fees were ~$17 per sub per month in FY23. ESPN+ is ~$11 per month. B/R Max add on is ~$10 per month, and that doesn't cover all WBD will put in. Fox excluding News is another ~$6 per month. I will be very surprised if the price point is less than… https://t.co/z8zuwgeSTl
Disney domestic linear affiliate fees were ~$17 per sub per month in FY23. ESPN+ is ~$11 per month. B/R Max add on is ~$10 per month, and that doesn't cover all WBD will put in. Fox excluding News is another ~$6 per month. I will be very surprised if the price point is <$40. https://t.co/z8zuwgeSTl
Bend over, prepare to pay $30/mo to stream any kinda sports https://t.co/yypGSchvMn
By subscribing to this focused, all-in-one premier sports service, fans would have access to the linear sports networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV, as well as ESPN+. https://t.co/eurcH0aPis
A lot of takes about this already. My read is this essentially a gap offering. This is a skinny bundle for people who don't want the ESPN direct-to-consumer offering that's to come and also don't want cable. How many people is that? I don't know. https://t.co/B7HV5gBFpd
A lot of takes about this already My read is this essentially a gap offering. This is a skinny bundle for people who don't want the ESPN direct-to-consumer offering that's to come and also don't want cable. How many people is that? I don't know. https://t.co/B7HV5gBFpd
Good point here on the ownership split. WBD is without NFL, college football, and doesn’t have the NBA Finals. Guessing revenue distribution perhaps will not be even? Odd to me Disney is doing this again given the headache and costs setting Hulu up in a similar fashion https://t.co/43D4ZHAzlm
As long as any non-sports fans subscribe to the traditional bundle, the traditional bundle will be the cheapest way to watch sports. Fragmentation is worst for those who were receiving the biggest cross subsidization.
The new sports streaming conglomerate might be "the death of cable" but people predicting the death of cable currently have a .000 batting average in a not-small number of plate appearances. We (sports fans) underestimate how many people watch regular ol' TV that is not sports
I *think* this is huge for sports fans who have cut cable? It's certainly convenient. However, you'll still have to pay separately to get Parmount+ for CBS games, Peacock for NBC games, etc. https://t.co/fMqS1g6oxD
So this is essentially cable for sports fans. Curious to see the price, because the only thing I watch on YouTube TV is sports. Beat the price and I probably switch. https://t.co/p6PTnRcPrh
From Variety: "Subscribers would get access to linear sports networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, Fox, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV and ESPN+... Pricing will be announced at a later date." https://t.co/keV39mraA1
A key point here — while the focus of this is sports, consumers who sign up for this will get everything on the linear network. So, that’s all content that airs on ABC, Fox, TNT, TBS, etc. Not just sports. https://t.co/bnXKE2pdlH
To be clear, this already **is** cable. This is just a skinny bundle of linear networks made up of some but not all networks that have sports. And also ESPN+. https://t.co/0IARvaR6k7
So, Fox is essentially unbundling Fox News from its other Fox assets. And as others have said, this looks like Hulu 1.0 but for sports. BTW, actual Hulu already has a live sports offering. The tag line is literally Hulu has live sports. https://t.co/Reiavuchk5
This kind of sports streaming consolidation is the end of cable television. https://t.co/NkkkgyGwKp
"The service, yet to be named, will be a sports-streaming bundle, available to ESPN+, Hulu, and Max subscribers." So, I don't have to pay more for this? Just watch commercials like...cable? Hell, yes. https://t.co/fn00jgu5ey
“Cable, but only for sports fans” is going to be so much more expensive than cable ever was. https://t.co/yeDwJ5EzX6
It’s the old HULU but for sports….what could go wrong? https://t.co/1UwfHiSjKQ
Initial read: Sports started to make streaming services as expensive as old cable, which defeated purpose of these services. They’re finally going the Euro model, breaking them out as their own bundle. And it’s gonna be really expensive for sports fans. https://t.co/PummvTI7gL
Fox sliding into the streaming world through a "sports side door". Allowed them to avoid all of the early losses in streaming and gave them the ability to partner with established brands in ESPN and Max. 👏 https://t.co/oUzdbofLhR
ESPN and Fox teaming up days after the SEC and Big Ten sorta teamed up may not be related or matter. But it’s worth wondering. https://t.co/Ia5BxysuSQ
I use the Hulu for sports analogy because when Hulu launched the partners (ABC/FOX/NBC) all contributed their entertainment product to Hulu. Now you have ESPN/FOX/WBD contributing their sports product in a similar way. Certainly lots of details that will be forthcoming. https://t.co/CbHh5hbQKQ
"Each company would own one-third of the new company and license their sports content to the outlet on a non-exclusive basis. The service would have a new brand and an independent management team." Hulu for Sports, but if you can't get all the NBA/NFL you want...why would you? https://t.co/vxGTzYjWfx
The newly minted UFL has outlined its broadcast schedule between ESPN and FOX. >>https://t.co/q82Hh74rwJ https://t.co/hz9YqJPgnZ