ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery are teaming up to create a new service that will put their various linear channels and select other content under one streaming umbrella.
The new service is in effect a focused version of services like Fubo and Roku, promising to "provide a new and differentiated experience to serve sports fans, particularly those outside of the traditional pay TV bundle."
The unnamed service promises to include content from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, as well as college sports, UFC, Formula 1, the World Cup, and more. It'll be available as a standalone service via an app or through a bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and/or Max. Some of the available channels will include:
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNU
- SECN
- ACCN
- ESPNEWS
- ABC
- FOX
- FS1
- FS2
- Big Ten Network
- TNT
- TBS
- truTV
The new service will also include content from ESPN+, which includes content such as German soccer and the NHL. ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros will each own one-third of the new venture.
Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement, "The launch of this new streaming sports service is a significant moment for Disney and ESPN, a major win for sports fans, and an important step forward for the media business. 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. I’m grateful to Jimmy Pitaro and the team at ESPN, who are at the forefront of innovating on behalf of consumers to create new offerings with more choice and greater value."
At present, sports fans must contend with a fractured streaming landscape that often forces them to subscribe to multiple services to follow live events. At a glance, the new bundle will offer value for some sports more than others, lacking among other things Sunday Night Football and Premier League soccer. Even the Super Bowl isn't necessarily a lock for the service, as it will be broadcast on CBS this year.
On the flipside, college fans figure to be well-served by the presence of BTN, SECN, ACCN, and various other networks. It will also promises to include Wimbledon, The Masters, and more.
ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. have yet to announce a price for the new subscription service, saying only that further details will be confirmed at a later date. The new service will launch in fall 2024.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
