Venu Sports Streaming Service Cancelled After Legal Battles
The ambitious Venu Sports streaming service has been officially cancelled, according to a joint statement from its backers Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The companies revealed that after extensive review, they decided to discontinue the project and will not be launching the service as originally planned.
Venu Sports, which was set to offer a $42.99-a-month subscription bundling top sports networks such as ESPN, FS1, BTN, TNT, and TBS, appeared to be a major contender in the streaming world. However, the venture faced a major setback when FuboTV filed a lawsuit last August, leading to a federal injunction that blocked the service’s launch.
Although Fubo later settled the lawsuit and Hulu reached a deal with Disney for their live TV streaming services, several challenges remained. The federal injunction, opposition from major competitors like DirectTV, and the complex legal landscape seemed to make the venture untenable for Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
In a statement, the companies acknowledged the work done so far but ultimately chose to refocus their efforts on existing products and services. This marks a dramatic and abrupt end to the Venu Sports saga, leaving sports fans hoping for a more streamlined viewing experience to adjust to the continued fragmentation of sports streaming services.