Murdoch aims for 5 mn subscribers with new sports streaming venture

The new sports streaming service formed by media giants Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, and Fox Corporation will attract 5 million subscribers within its first five years, as announced by Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch on Monday. He was speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom conference.

This venture, expected to launch later this fall, aims to capture younger audiences with its focus on sports content.

Key features include:

Rights to major sporting events: The service will hold broadcasting rights for the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and various college competitions.

Premium pricing: Murdoch hinted at a potential pricing point exceeding the previously discussed $40 per month, reflecting the value proposition of the extensive sports content library.

Joint ownership and non-exclusive licensing: The three companies will equally own and manage the venture, while licensing their sports content on a non-exclusive basis.

Murdoch expressed confidence in overcoming potential regulatory hurdles and emphasized the vast addressable market, estimated to be around half of US television households (50-60 million), who may be interested in subscribing to this new sports streaming package.

This collaboration marks a significant move in the evolving landscape of media consumption, catering to the growing demand for sports content streaming and potentially reshaping the sports viewing experience for millions of viewers.