The highly anticipated sports streaming platform planned by media giants ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery now has an official name — Venu Sports.
This joint venture, which has been likened to a “Hulu for sports”, aims to revolutionize sports streaming by providing a one-stop destination for live games and sports content, the Associated Press reported on Friday 16.
“As preparations for the platform continue to accelerate, we are singularly focused on delivering a best-in-class product for our target audience, built from the ground up using the latest technologies to engage and entertain discerning sports fans wanting one-stop access to live games,” Venu Sports CEO Pete Distad said in a statement.
Further details, including pricing and launch timing, will be announced later.
Venu Sports still has many hurdles to clear, including regulatory approval, before it launches.
FuboTV filed an antitrust lawsuit shortly after the joint venture was announced. In its filing, FuboTV said it has tried for years to offer a sports-only streaming service but has been prevented from doing so because ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery have imposed bundling requirements.
Sports leagues also have plenty of questions about the venture, with most being unanswered at this point.
It also remains unclear how much NBA content would be available on Venu Sports. ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery are in negotiations to renew their rights, which expire at the end of next season.
In a statement, the promoters of the sports streaming joint venture said Venu Sports, which is on track to launch this fall in the US, will bring together the companies’ portfolios of sports networks and “certain direct to consumer services in a compelling new streaming sports service” to allow underserved fans to get the most out of every game.