Venu Sports, the new sports streaming service jointly launched by Disney’s ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox Corporation, has announced its pricing at $42.99 per month. The platform, expected to debut in the fall, will offer a seven-day free trial upon launch, with additional details to be provided at that time. The launch is contingent on regulatory approval.
The streaming service aims to be available before the start of the National Football League (NFL) season, which kicks off on Thursday, September 5. Fox currently holds the rights to Sunday NFL games, while ESPN broadcasts Monday Night Football. The initial pricing of $42.99 per month will be locked in for subscribers for 12 months, indicating potential price increases in the future.
Sports’ high-end pricing aligns with the premium costs associated with direct-to-consumer sports streaming services. This pricing strategy is partly designed to avoid disrupting existing carriage agreements with traditional pay TV distributors, where live sports remain the highest-rated and most expensive content. The escalating value of media rights is exemplified by the recent 11-year, $77 billion NBA package.
Targeted at sports enthusiasts who have opted out of traditional pay TV, Venu Sports will offer access to thousands of live events from major professional leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and top college sports conferences. The service will also provide access to 14 traditional TV sports networks, including ESPN, ABC, Fox, TNT, and TBS, along with the streaming service ESPN+.
Pete Distad, a former Apple and Hulu executive, has been appointed CEO of Venu Sports, which operates as an independent entity with its own management team. “Venu will offer sports fans in the U.S. a single destination for watching the most sought-after games and events,” Distad stated in a news release. “We’re building Venu from the ground up for fans who want seamless access to the sports they love, at a compelling price point.”
Additionally, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery are planning to bundle their streaming services—Max, Disney+, and Hulu—at $16.99 per month with ads, and $29.99 per month for an ad-free experience.
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