Lawmakers Express Concerns Over Sports Streaming Joint Venture

Competition Concerns

U.S. lawmakers Jerry Nadler and Joaquin Castro recently raised concerns about the upcoming sports streaming joint venture involving Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros Discovery. They questioned how this collaboration would impact competition, access, and consumer choices within the sports streaming market. In a letter addressed to the CEOs of these media giants, the lawmakers highlighted potential issues such as higher prices for consumers and unfair licensing terms for sports leagues and video distributors.

Response Deadline

Nadler and Castro urged the companies to address their concerns by April 30 and also share their responses with the Department of Justice. The joint venture, slated to launch this autumn, aims to attract younger viewers who have shifted away from traditional television. However, the deal is facing scrutiny from the DoJ and an antitrust lawsuit from FuboTV.

Media Companies Portfolio

Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros possess a diverse range of professional and collegiate sports rights, including popular leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and FIFA World Cup. The new sports streaming service will offer non-exclusive access to networks like ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and TNT, as well as streamed content.

Industry Response

While Disney and Warner Bros have yet to comment on the lawmakers’ concerns, Fox declined to provide a statement. The current landscape of sports streaming is evolving rapidly, with companies vying for a slice of the market share.