New ESPN, Fox, WBD Streaming Venture Won't Solve Much — At Least Not Yet
A new streaming venture between ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery aims to offer sports fans more options, but it may not solve all their viewing problems.
The Great Rebundling is upon us
Despite the collaboration between ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, it is unlikely to be the ultimate solution for sports viewing. While it is significant that these three major brands are teaming up, the issue of bundling is far from solved.
For consumers, this new venture may not be necessary. The service will be owned equally by the three partners, and the cost is expected to be around $40 to $50 per month. However, considering that there are already affordable options like YouTube TV that offer similar content, it's unlikely that many sports fans will opt for this new venture.
Moreover, the new streaming service will not include major events like the Super Bowl or certain CBS games, making it less appealing to some viewers.
A stepping stone for Fox Sports
Fox Sports, which has been observing its competitors enter the subscription streaming market, sees this new venture as an opportunity to finally make its move. While it is a small step into the sports subscription arena, it gives Fox Sports an initial chance to participate.
Similarly, ESPN has long been planning to launch a direct-to-consumer product, and this partnership is a way for the network to start moving in that direction.
Warner Bros. Discovery, with its rights to broadcast events like the NBA and MLB playoffs, brings its own assets to the venture.
Incomplete without key players
One limitation of this new streaming venture is the absence of other major players like CBS. This means that certain high-profile sporting events, such as the Super Bowl and March Madness games broadcasted by CBS, will not be available on the platform.
While the collaboration between ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery is a step toward bundling sports rights, it is still incomplete. As big digital players like Amazon, Apple, and Netflix continue to invest in sports rights, the trio of networks may need to strengthen their position in order to compete.
However, for now, this new venture is unlikely to drastically change the viewing experience for most sports fans.
