Fox and ESPN, two major players in sports broadcasting, are set to launch standalone streaming services later in 2025, capitalizing on the shift away from traditional cable TV toward direct-to-consumer (DTC) platforms. These moves come as both companies adapt to changing viewer habits, particularly among younger audiences who prefer streaming over cable subscriptions, and follow the collapse of their joint venture, Venu Sports, with Warner Bros. Discovery, which was abandoned in January 2025 due to antitrust concerns.
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| Murdoch |
Fox Corporation, under CEO Lachlan Murdoch, announced plans in February, to launch a subscription-based streaming service by the end of 2025, targeting the NFL and college football seasons. Unlike its free, ad-supported platform Tubi or the Fox News-centric Fox Nation, this new service will focus on sports and news, drawing from Fox Sports’ portfolio—including NFL, MLB, and LIV Golf—and Fox News content. Murdoch emphasized reaching "cord-nevers" (those without cable) rather than shifting existing linear TV viewers, describing the service as a "holistic" package of existing content with "modest" investment and pricing. While specifics like the service’s name and exact cost remain undisclosed, Murdoch suggested a "relatively low" price point, distinguishing it from pricier bundles like DirecTV’s MySports ($69/month).
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| Iger |
ESPN, owned by Disney, will launch its own DTC streaming service, tentatively called "Flagship," in fall 2025, likely late August, aligning with the NFL and college football kickoffs. Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed this timeline during a February 2025 earnings call, positioning it as a "one-stop shop" for sports fans. Unlike the existing ESPN+ (which offers niche sports and on-demand content but lacks ESPN’s main channel programming), Flagship will include the full suite of ESPN channels—ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, and more—plus interactive features like ESPN Bet, fantasy sports, e-commerce, and detailed stats. Priced potentially between $25-$30/month (higher than ESPN+’s current $11.99/month), it will also be available in a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu.
Both launches stem from the unraveling cable bundle and the failure of Venu Sports, a $42.99/month sports streaming bundle axed amid legal challenges. Fox and ESPN had initially planned Venu with Warner Bros. Discovery to combine their sports offerings (e.g., ESPN’s NFL and NBA, Fox’s MLB), but its demise pushed them to pursue solo strategies. These standalone services aim to capture sports fans unwilling to pay for broad cable packages, offering tailored, flexible access.
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