The End of Venu: A Lesson in Streaming Changes

Ever wanted to stream sports with ease? Imagine if Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox joined forces to create ‘Venu, ’ a streaming service solely for sports fans. Well, say goodbye to Venu because it’s no longer happening. The companies slammed the brakes on Venu, deciding it was better to focus on their current products. It’s a big end to a week filled with surprises. Disney shook things up by teaming up with Fubo to make a new streaming powerhouse. But just as things were looking up, two major satellite TV firms hinted at causing trouble. With all that drama, the companies chose to call it quits on Venu. Venu was supposed to be different, focusing on sports and ditching the usual channel setup. But Fubo cried foul, saying Venu played dirty with their antitrust rules. The judge even paused Venu’s launch, making for a very uncertain future. Despite Venu’s demise, it’s left its mark. Disney's now offering more flexible streaming options, potentially paving the way for true sports-focused platforms. ESPN’s still planning their big sports service this year. Industry folks wonder if they’ll team up with rivals like Fox to bring more sports to their platform. The idea behind Venu was to bridge the gap between ESPN’s service and bigger bundle options. With Disney loosening up, that gap might not need filling anymore.