• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, August 5, 2024

The big bet on sports is in -- at least for three major media companies -- in terms of what they believe sports fans will spend per month on a sports-only streaming platform: $43 for the platform called Venu. 

Walt Disney, Fox Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery -- under a joint venture -- hope to pull in a significant number of sports-focused fans -- around 5 million in the near term after its launch this fall. 

The Venu package gives access to 14 live sports channels including  ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ABC, Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS and truTV.

Targeted TV-streaming consumers would be those who don’t want to pay the $73 to $100 or so per month for a traditional pay TV bundle  -- cable, satellite, virtual -- which include scores of other cable TV content -- news, scripted entertainment, unscripted/reality.

Right off the bat, there is trouble. WBD’s TNT and truTV were left out of the mix when it came to the new decade-long NBA TV/streaming renewals. According to many analysts, the NBA may be only second to the NFL,  in terms of advertising value, TV viewership,  and fan appeal.

And while the NFL game action will be front and center for the platform, it will not have all games -- those on NBCUniversal (NBC Television Network/ Peacock) and Paramount Global (CBS/ Paramount+)

While ESPN retains its portion of NBA telecasts, the other two thirds now goes to newbies NBCUniversal (NBC Television Network and Amazon Prime Video -- which are not part of the Venu joint venture. 

All to say that $43 price point may just be a standard opening offer; a more discount price could come (from bundling and other incentives).

Still figure those Venu sports fans would still need some over-the-air general news and/or entertainment-- especially if their household isn’t just of one person. Would freebies like Tubi or Pluto TV fit the bill?

Richard Greenfield, co-founder/ media analyst of LightShed Partners, says the bigger worry will come from the now standard streaming platform option: The ability to easily opt- out of Venu from a month or longer should those fans favorite sports be off the air after their in-play seasons are completed.

Also consider the price tag: $43 for just one streaming app -- a platform that wants to squeeze into a space between entertainment consumer price points of,m say, Netflix and a cable TV package from Comcast or Charter. 

That might be a head-scratcher  for even the most fanantical of sports fans. Venu marketing executives have their work cut out for them.