Disney, Fox and WBD’s Sports Streaming Platform – Venu Unveiled!
Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery have named their upcoming sports streaming joint venture Venu Sports. Stadiums, arenas, speedways, octagons, courts, rinks, ballparks, and other locations where fans congregate to watch and engage with the action serve as the inspiration for the name. During TV week, the media behemoths unveiled the Venu Sports brand, which is the moniker of their joint upcoming sports streamer, with assistance from creative partners at R/GA. CEO Pete Distad revealed the company’s name and logo.
Venu – the new sports streaming platform
The product, dubbed cord nevers because it is intended for households without access to traditional cable bundles and is scheduled to launch this fall, will be sold directly to customers through a new app. Fox, Disney, and WBD will each hold a third of the business, be equally represented on the board, and grant the joint venture a non-exclusive license to use their sports content. It will include content from the ABC network, as well as the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, College Sports, UFC, PGA TOUR Golf, Grand Slam Tennis, the FIFA World Cup, cycling, and much more. The linear networks ESPN, ESPN+, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, and TruTV will all be included.
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Behind Venu’s logo
The Venu Sports logo takes a different approach, embracing a navy blue that is one of the most recognizable uniform colors in sports and an offsetting orange that should feel familiar to any fan of the Denver Broncos, Auburn, Illinois, or Syracuse. Disney, Fox, and WBD’s sports logos already rely heavily on bold colors (lots of primary reds and blues) and block lettering. The typeface features the curves of a road race and the tilt of a runner in stride.
Venu Sports onboarded ex-Apple Executive Pete Distad
Primarily announced in February, Venu Sports brought on former Apple executive Distad in March, concurrently with lawmakers voicing antitrust worries regarding the service’s effects. However, media companies recognize the benefits of consolidating multiple sports properties under one roof, particularly during NewFronts and upfronts, as live sports continue to draw larger audiences and the sports broadcast landscape becomes more fragmented with regard to ad buyers. The ESPN, Fox, and WBD sports networks’ portfolios along with ESPN+—which offers programming from all major professional sports leagues and collegiate sports—would be combined to form Venu Sports. As part of the branding announcement, Venu Sports unveiled its website and announced a tentative fall 2024 launch date.
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Additionally, subscribers will be able to combine the product with Disney+, Hulu, or Max, among other services. Prices and further details regarding the launch schedule will be disclosed later. According to analyst estimates, the JV’s monthly pricing could range from $35 to $50. TheWrap was previously informed by a person close to the project that the price would be less than YouTube TV’s $72.99 base plan each month.
Brands venturing away from cable TV
The action is being taken in an attempt to reach viewers who have been steadily drifting away from cable TV, as Disney and other media companies have been doing more and more in the streaming market. Warner Bros. Discovery and The Walt Disney Co. recently revealed that they will be launching a new bundle service this summer that will combine Warner Bros.’ Max app with Disney’s Hulu and Disney+ streaming services.
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Warner Bros. Discovery Appoint BigSmall to Handle Launch of Streaming Service Max
Max, an enhanced streaming service, will be launched by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in collaboration with Once Upon a Time, an entertainment creative advertising and marketing specialist, and BigSmall, a brand consultancy and creative agency. Warner Bros.’ Max is a streaming service that combines HBO, Eurosport, and Discovery. Along with OOH, audio, digital, and social media, the campaign will also include film and television.
WBD appoint BigSmall to launch an enhanced streaming service, Max
The agency will collaborate with entertainment company Once Upon a Time to prepare for the streamer’s launch in 22 markets on May 21st. Max combines all of the action from Eurosport’s subscription service, HBO Max’s programming, and Discovery’s real-life entertainment to create a comprehensive viewing experience for the entire family in one location. Max does not have a country-specific release schedule; it has been available for streaming in the US for a year. Initially, it will be available in the Nordics, Iberia, and Central and Eastern Europe. Poland, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium will follow. At this time, the UK is not scheduled.
WBD streaming programs
Numerous Warner Bros. movies, including Barbie and Wonka, and classics like Paddington and the Harry Potter books, will be available for streaming on Max. In addition, there will be Grand Slam tennis competitions, cycling, HBO Originals like The White Lotus and The Last of Us, and news networks like CNN and Euronews. There will be three distinct plans to choose from: basic with advertisements, standard, and premium, with an additional sports add-on option. BigSmall, which most recently won the global money transfer fintech Wise competition, has previously collaborated with clients in the entertainment industry such as 2K Games, Amazon Music, and BBC America.
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Here’s what they said
Elana Loewenthal, VP Brand and Content Marketing, said.
“For this launch we wanted to deliver quality at scale, whilst unlocking the evocative power of our content. With Once Upon a Time providing a wide range of agency skills, everything from brand strategy to creative to production to localisation, and BigSmall creating our anthem TV and cinema campaign, we have the perfect partners to launch Max across Europe.”
Tom Stroud, Managing Director – Creative Advertising, Once Upon a Time Marketing added,
“Launching Europe’s newest streaming service, Max, for Warner Bros Discovery, across 20+ markets, has touched every corner of the agency from brand strategy to creative and production. Delivering end-to-end strategic creative solutions for entertainment clients across the globe is our expertise and passion, and we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with the team at Max to bring their enhanced streaming service to life.”
Read More: CNN and WBD Sports Collaborate for Programmatic Platform – WBD Connect
CNN and WBD Sports Collaborate for Programmatic Platform – WBD Connect
CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) and WBD Sports Europe collaborate to offer unmatched access to premium, scalable Programmatic Guaranteed brand solutions. With the new WBD Connect offering, global brands and agencies can reach 350 million monthly digital users worldwide through a variety of ad formats on a range of channels and devices, including desktops, mobile, apps, and CTV.
CNN and WBD Sports launch WBD Connect, its programmatic platform
Reached by a single point of sale, it can interact with a vast number of international viewers in the news and sports through premium digital content from CNN, Eurosport, Bleacher Report, and NBA.com. The top independent sell-side advertising firm, Magnite, is joining forces with WBD Connect. As WBD’s technology partner, Magnite streamlines campaign efficiency with a single deal ID. WBD uses data insights to plan and optimize campaigns for its digital platforms, maximizing brand partners’ return on investment and performance in real-time.
WBD Launchpad at CNNIC is the first place where WBD Sports fans can be reached on social media. It aims to reach users on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Snap. This makes it possible for highly engaged audiences to see premium branded and sponsored content on Bleacher Report, CNN, Eurosport, and TNT Sports (in the UK & Ireland) social media handles.
Here’s what they said
Rob Bradley, SVP Digital Revenue, Strategy and Operations, CNN International Commercial stated,
“This is another step forward for WBD in utilising the unique scale and influence we offer marketers when we combine the power of our portfolio and drive mass engagement from a single and efficient entry point. Our news and sports coverage is unrivalled on a global level and we’re enabling brands to tap into these passion points, reaching vast and active audiences plus the opportunity to elevate campaign targeting around major news events, cultural peaks and global sporting spectacles from the Olympics to the NBA championship. WBD Connect is a great example of how a company with our size and scale can combine offerings across multiple brands using smart technology in new ways.”
Mike Rich, Head of International and UK Ad-Sales and Brand Partnerships at Warner Bros. Discovery, said,
“The combination of News and Sports is an immensely powerful proposition and one which has a unique ability to captivate the attention of millions of engaged and passionate viewers around the world. No other media company possesses the portfolio of much-loved and trusted news and sports brands as we do, and by rolling out WBD Connect, we will super serve our brand partners with tailored marketing solutions that enables them to tell their stories at an unmatched scale to connect with the widest possible audience.”
Rebecca Ackers, VP, DV+ Platform, EMEA at Magnite said,
“In unifying CNN and WBD’s digital capabilities, WBD Connect is enabling advertisers to reach audiences with greater efficiency across the numerous platforms and devices used by consumers. As advertisers increasingly lean into programmatic, we look forward to supporting WBD Connect with our technology and delivering streamlined programmatic access to their suite of premium inventory.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Launches Olli, its Data-Platform for Advertising Solutions
Warner Bros. Discovery revealed the launch of Olli, a proprietary first-party data platform that will power the next generation of advanced advertising solutions for partners. Through the platform, advertisers will be able to organize, launch, and track ad campaigns throughout WBD’s content library. Olli enables seamless campaign planning, activation, and measurement across WBD’s entire portfolio of premium content and brands by combining data, audience intelligence, and ad tech solutions.
WBD’s first-party data platform Olli
With a new feature called data-driven video, the Olli platform will enable advertisers to target specific demographics, assisting clients in optimizing reach, reducing waste, and increasing engagement. With data-driven video, clients can refocus to balance the target audience across WBD’s linear and digital platforms after the early exclusion of heavy linear TV viewers. Additionally, it contains tools to lessen needless exposure for the intended audience.
The product promises to provide audience solutions and streamline media planning. Through the collection of first-party data from its direct users and consumers, Olli will be able to identify audiences. The user base of WBD’s portfolio of brands, which includes HBO and Max, Discovery+, CNN, TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, Food Network, HGTV, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, will be tapped into by Olli.
WBD has previously collaborated with media agencies to offer data-driven video solutions, including MG, RPA, and Wayfair. The third quarter of this year will see the start of testing by IPG Mediabrands.
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Media Strategy
WBD can strengthen the following pillars of a client’s media strategy with Olli:
Data and Identity
Olli’s extensive audience graph provides detailed insights into user behaviors and preferences. It is derived from direct consumer relationships spanning over 100 million households and 700 million devices in the United States. This makes it possible to identify audiences more precisely, which strengthens engagement and facilitates the creation of strategies. Olli creates comprehensive audience profiles by utilizing first-party data from active users, guaranteeing accurate first-party targeting and improved campaign performance.
Activation and Automation
By unifying planning across the portfolio and integrating marketer data with WBD’s extensive first-party audience library, Olli optimizes WBD’s ad tech processes and delivers unrivaled targeting fidelity and campaign relevance along with faster time-to-market and cost savings. By utilizing Snowflake’s Data Clean Room solutions, Olli improves data security and privacy compliance, two essential aspects of the modern digital advertising landscape.
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Measurement and Insights
Olli provides WBD with cutting-edge measurement techniques and actionable ad analytics to demonstrate effectiveness and attribution at every stage of the customer journey. Olli offers partners more precise and useful insight and measurement than ever before thanks to its upcoming fully integrated measurement partners, like ABCS Insights and LoopMe.
Here’s what they said
Ryan Gould, Head of Digital Ad Sales, Warner Bros. Discovery said,
“With the introduction of Olli and Data-Driven Video, Warner Bros. Discovery offers a transformative approach to how media strategies are crafted and executed. Our goal is to ensure that every connection between brand and audience is reached in the most efficient and effective way across our vast expanse of digital and traditional platforms. We’ve already seen early success with this offering, and we look forward to bringing it to the wider marketplace working with marketers looking to activate advanced audience segments to achieve their advertising, sales and marketing objectives.”
Read More: ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery Form a Joint Venture for New Streaming Sports Platform
ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery Form a Joint Venture for New Streaming Sports Platform
FOX, Warner Bros. Discovery, and ESPN, a division of the Walt Disney Company, have come to an agreement on the main terms of forming a new joint venture. They will develop an inventive new platform to house an exciting new streaming sports service. Major college and professional games that are typically only broadcast on traditional TV will be available on the sports-focused streaming service.
New streaming sports service
The platform combines the sports networks, select direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services, and sports rights portfolios of the companies, which include college and professional sports content from all the major leagues. Final agreements between the parties must be negotiated before the pay service can be formed. The product will be offered to customers directly through a new app. It is slated to go on sale in the fall of 2024. Additionally, subscribers have the option to bundle the product with Disney+, Hulu, and/or Max. The service would be rebranded and run by a separate management group.
Key Features of the new standalone streaming service
Each company will own one-third of the service. We still need to decide on the service’s name and price. The objective is to entice viewers who do not have a pay TV subscription. They will provide them with access to all the sports included in that package. All three companies’ standalone subscription streaming services will feature an unparalleled quantity of live sports programming from their respective sports networks. Its main source of income will be from user subscription fees. On its own networks, each network will still sell advertisements that conflict with its content. For the joint venture, there will be equal board representation for each of the three participating companies. Each of them will grant the joint venture a non-exclusive license to use their sports content.
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Service catered specifically towards sports fans
To give sports fans a fresh and unique experience, the platform would compile content to provide a wide variety of dynamic sports content. Fans could access linear networks, such as ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV, and ESPN+, by subscribing to this targeted, all-in-one premium sports service. Among the most watched programs that will be included in the package, it will also include Monday Night Football.
Along with NASCAR, the PGA Tour, Grand Slams of tennis, and more, the new service will also broadcast games from the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL). Users of Max, Hulu, and Disney Plus will also be able to bundle the new service.
Sports streaming landscape
As some leagues choose to keep broadcasting games on conventional cable networks and others have negotiated agreements with streaming services, the landscape of sports streaming has grown more fragmented. The live sports add-on for Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streaming service debuted last year and costs an additional $9.99 per month. By combining some of the biggest sports networks, viewers may have access to even more streaming options that aren’t restricted to a smaller number of sports and leagues. It might produce the kind of incredible sports streaming service that fans of sports would love to have in the terrible current climate. Or it might just be a more costly, unfinished, and glitch-filled version of what we already had with cable TV.
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Here’s what they said
Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company said,
The launch of this new streaming sports service is a significant moment for Disney and ESPN, a major win for sports fans, and an important step forward for the media business. This means the full suite of ESPN channels will be available to consumers alongside the sports programming of other industry leaders as part of a differentiated sports-centric service. I’m grateful to Jimmy Pitaro and the team at ESPN, who are at the forefront of innovating on behalf of consumers to create new offerings with more choice and greater value.
Lachlan Murdoch, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of FOX added,
We’re pumped to bring the FOX Sports portfolio to this new and exciting platform. We believe the service will provide passionate fans outside of the traditional bundle an array of amazing sports content all in one place.
David Zaslav, Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, stated,
At WBD, our ambition is always to connect our leading content and brands with as many viewers as possible, and this exciting joint venture and the unparalleled combination of marquee sports rights and access to the greatest sporting events in the world allows us to do just that. This new sports service exemplifies our ability as an industry to drive innovation and provide consumers with more choice, enjoyment and value and we’re thrilled to deliver it to sports fans.
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SRMG, Warner Bros. Discovery Launch Free-to-View Arabic Language Platform
Asharq Discovery, a new free-to-view Arabic language infotainment platform, has been unveiled by SRMG, the largest integrated media group from the MENA region, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery. The platform began operations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Asharq Discovery offers free access to top-notch international material in Arabic. It will feature hundreds of hours of high-quality content from Discovery’s lauded library in addition to hand-selected acquisitions from all over the region. Additionally, it features a compelling selection of creative creations.
The new free-to-view platform in MENA
The development of the new free-to-view platform is a direct response to the growing demand for Arabic-language content as well as shifting viewer tastes. According to a recent SRMG survey, more than 80% of Middle East and North Africa viewers are hungry for more Arabic programming. The site will provide a wide selection of genres while catering to a local audience. Pop science and engineering, crime and mystery, automobiles, travel and adventure, cuisine and cookery, wildlife and nature, lifestyle, and reality will all be covered.
SRMG – Warner Bros. Discovery Partnership
The partnership will produce believable and captivating MENA-related stories. Furthermore, because production will take place there, it will present opportunities for local talent. In order to showcase regional storytelling to a worldwide audience, WBD also has the option of globally distributing co-produced content through Warner Bros. Discovery channels and services. A long-term strategic alliance between SRMG and Warner Bros. Discovery led to the creation of Asharq Discovery. In addition to SRMG’s rights to choose content from Warner Bros. Discovery library, this partnership will feature the co-production of up to 30 hours of content each year with WBD and HBO.
Asharq Discovery
Exclusive programs from the acclaimed Warner Bros. Discovery’s library are featured on Asharq Discovery. Favorite shows from networks including Discovery, Animal Planet, TLC, Investigation Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, and regional favorites Fatafeat are among them. Arabic voiceovers and graphics have been added to the chosen programs in their entirety. Asharq Discovery’s initial schedule features free, never-before-seen Arabic television programs. They are Wheeler Dealers, Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, Gold Rush, and 90 Day Fiancé.
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SRMG’s partnership portfolio
Bloomberg Media, The Independent Group, and Billboard are just a few of the notable companies that SRMG has a proven track record of working with successfully. Asharq Discovery is the most recent addition to SRMG’s award-winning “Asharq News Network,” which also includes Asharq News, Asharq Business with Bloomberg, and the recently launched Asharq Documentary, which offers incisive and factual documentary programming. These news outlets have been among the fastest-growing in the MENA region for the past three years. Through satellite coverage on Arabsat and Nilesat, the catch-up service Asharq NOW, and Asharq Discovery’s social media platforms, Asharq Discovery is available for free viewing throughout the area.
Here’s what they said
Jomana R. Al-Rashid, CEO of SRMG said,
Asharq Discovery’s launch is a direct response to the growing demand and changing consumption habits. We can see from several studies that there is an increase in the demand for audio and visual content across our region. The new free-to-view platform is the latest example of SRMG’s transformation strategy in action. At SRMG, we are dedicated to enhancing and expanding our media portfolio and elevating the media and entertainment ecosystem in the region. Just this past month, we launched Asharq Documentary, dedicated to uncovering the stories behind the headlines in politics, business and economics, and history. Now, with Asharq Discovery, we continue to redefine the viewing experience with seven distinct genres, each offering a fresh perspective on storytelling. The Asharq Discovery platform is unique as it provides a wide range of exceptional content in Arabic, and for the first time, for free. Our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery is testament to our ambition to produce and showcase award-winning, authentic content that captivates and inspires audiences both here in our region and across the globe. The launch is just the start; we have extremely ambitious plans for co-production, and I look forward to watching the platform’s growth.
Jamie Cooke, GM CEE, Middle East & Turkey of Warner Bros. Discovery added,
The entertainment industry in the MENA region is an area of major global talent and transformative growth. We have seen immense changes over the last few years, and MENA audiences are eager for fresh and new content. I am excited to start developing Arabic content that can inspire viewers not just in the region but Arabic speaking audiences around the world. Warner Bros. Discovery has the greatest and broadest collection of brands, franchises, and storytelling IP in the world, and we’re excited to provide a new free-to-view channel where we can reach new audiences and bring them our stories through our partnership with SRMG.
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