ESPN-Fox-Warner Bros. Shut Down Joint Streaming App Venu Sports

Screenshot of the Venu Sports homepage

Venu Sports — the all-in-one streaming app that would have brought ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery under one umbrella — has been discontinued.

The app, Variety reported, would have given subscribers access to live sports from 14 different networks. The subscription was initially priced at $42.99 per month.

“Venu Sports, the proposed virtual MVPD service from ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery, will be discontinued,” ESPN said in a statement. “The collective decision by the three companies not to move forward with the contemplated joint venture is effective immediately.”

That statement was followed by a joint statement between the three companies:

After careful consideration, we have collectively agreed to discontinue the Venu Sports joint venture and not launch the streaming service. In an ever-changing marketplace, we determined that it was best to meet the evolving demands of sports fans by focusing on existing products and distribution channels. 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.

Venu Sports was set to launch in time for the start of the 2024 NFL season, but it was temporarily blocked by a judge after Fubo — another sports streamer — claimed it would “substantially lessen competition and restrain trade.” The Walt Disney company resolved the issue by agreeing to buy a 70% stake in Fubo.