Venu Sports Streaming Service Officially Shelved by Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery
After months of anticipation and a series of legal battles, Venu Sports has officially been pulled from the lineup of upcoming streaming services. In a joint statement, the powerhouse backers of the venture—Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery—announced the discontinuation of the service, which was set to offer a premium package bundling some of the biggest sports channels in the industry.
The companies expressed that after careful consideration, they decided it was best to focus on their existing products and distribution channels, acknowledging the changing dynamics of the marketplace. The statement noted, “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.”
Originally, Venu Sports aimed to disrupt the sports streaming space with a hefty $42.99-a-month subscription, which would have included channels like ESPN, FS1, BTN, TNT, and TBS. However, the venture hit a major roadblock last August when FuboTV filed a lawsuit, challenging the service’s competitive viability. A federal judge imposed an injunction, stalling Venu’s progress.
While the situation appeared to be on the mend after Fubo settled its lawsuit and a deal was struck with Hulu, the hurdles remained significant. The federal injunction, ongoing opposition from competitors like DirectTV, and other legal challenges proved too much for Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery to move forward with the project. Ultimately, they opted to abandon the venture altogether.
As a result, sports fans hoping for a one-stop solution to simplify streaming will need to look elsewhere, as Venu Sports’ ambitious plans have been officially sidelined.
