Venu Sports, the highly anticipated sports-centric streaming service combining content from Disney (ESPN), Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, has finally revealed its price tag. The service will launch this fall at a cost of $43 per month, offering a compelling option for sports enthusiasts.
While a specific launch date remains under wraps, Venu Sports has confirmed its arrival will precede the start of the college football season. The service will operate on a month-to-month subscription basis, featuring a complimentary seven-day trial for new users. Furthermore, Venu Sports has promised that subscribers signing up at the launch price will enjoy that rate for a full 12 months. This statement subtly hints at a potential price increase after the initial year. However, the service offers flexibility by allowing users to cancel their subscriptions at any time without contractual obligations.
Despite not encompassing every sports event available through traditional cable or linear streaming services – Paramount (CBS) and Comcast (NBC) are notable omissions – Venu Sports boasts an impressive roster of content. Expect to find the NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA, NHL, WNBA, college football and basketball, international soccer, tennis, golf, and auto racing, just to name a few. The service also includes a diverse lineup of linear sports networks, featuring the ESPN family of channels, including ESPN+, SEC and ACC Network (both operated by ESPN), ABC, Fox, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, and TBS. A robust library of on-demand content further enhances the Venu Sports experience.
Executives representing the three companies involved have emphasized that Venu Sports is not intended to lure subscribers away from their existing cable and streaming services. Instead, their target audience consists of the estimated 60 million “cord-nevers,” individuals who currently do not subscribe to any traditional television or streaming services. This strategy has sparked a lawsuit from Fubo, the smallest of the four major live streaming services in the United States.
The streaming landscape is undeniably about choice for consumers, and Venu Sports appears poised to present a tempting option for sports fans. With its comprehensive selection of live events and on-demand content, coupled with its competitive pricing and flexible subscription model, Venu Sports is poised to make a significant impact in the streaming market.
