The Walt Disney Company, Fox Corporation, and Warner Bros. Discovery have decided to cancel their plans to launch the sports-centric streaming platform, Venu Sports. Originally announced in February, Venu Sports was designed to unite the live sports assets of Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), and ESPN. The platform was initially scheduled to debut before the NFL season in September but faced delays, including a legal challenge from streaming provider Fubo, which argued the platform could stifle competition.
“After careful consideration, we have collectively agreed to discontinue the Venu Sports joint venture and not launch the streaming service,” the statement said. “In an ever-changing marketplace, we determined that it was best to meet the evolving demands of sports fans by focusing on existing products and distribution channels. We are proud of the work that has been done on Venu to date and grateful to the Venu staff, whom we will support through this transition period.”
Disney, Fox, and WBD collectively control more than 50% of U.S. sports media rights and at least 60% of all nationally broadcast sports rights, according to the judge overseeing the antitrust case brought by Fubo. The judge's ruling in Fubo's lawsuit raised broader concerns about the legality of cable bundling practices. This led Disney to reach a deal with Fubo, granting Disney a 70% stake in the resulting entity. However, satellite providers DirecTV and Dish filed objections in federal court, arguing the judge's antitrust concerns remained unresolved.
Bundling remains a key revenue model for both Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. WBD relies on bundled carriage agreements for its extensive cable network portfolio, including CNN, TNT, HGTV, and Food Network. Meanwhile, Disney is preparing to launch its all-inclusive ESPN streaming service, dubbed "ESPN Flagship," in August 2025. Unlike ESPN+, this service will offer the full range of content available on ESPN’s linear network.
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