Later this year, Disney will team up with Warner Brothers Discovery on two new projects. One of these projects will be a bundle that will combine Hulu, Disney+, and Max and is scheduled to launch later this summer.

The other project is a brand new sports streaming service called Venu Sports, which will combine ESPN, FOX, and Warner Brother Discovery’s portfolios of sports networks and ESPN+, including content from all the major professional sports leagues and college sports.   Venu Sports is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2024 and will be made available directly to consumers via a new app. Subscribers would also have the ability to bundle the product, including with Disney+, Hulu or Max.

This week, many of the major executives from the studios and tech companies are attending the Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference.  Warner Brothers Discovery CEO David Zaslav spoke with CNBC, where he spoke about the upcoming streaming bundle of Max, Hulu and Disney+, calling it a “compelling product that they are excited about”.

No other details on this bundle have been announced yet, such as when it might become available, what tiers will be available or how much the bundle will cost.  Or even if Max content will be available within Disney+ and Hulu? 

The studios are all looking at ways to cut costs, improve profitability and reduce churn, which is seeing the companies looking at alternative options like bundling with other streaming services and cable/telephone providers. 

“I think probably over the next year or two you’re going to see some real consolidation, whether that happens from companies buying each other, or jointly going after streaming together,”

David also spoke about the upcoming Venu Sports platform, which is currently awaiting regulatory approval and could also be impacted by a lawsuit by Fubo. 

“It’s a really contemporary product, so there will be no channels, when you go on there you will be able to see all of the hockey, Nascar” and lots of other programming. “Between Fox, Warner Bros. and ESPN, we have about 75% of [all] sport.”

Roger’s Take: David Zaslav has been very vocal about his thoughts on the streaming business, in that he doesn’t seem to be a fan because it’s not bringing in enough money, and he will do anything to make sure WBD is making some.  Be it bundling with other platforms, removing content, or selling some of its top shows to its competitors.  All that matters to him is making money.   Ever since Warner Brothers and Discovery merged, there has been an expectation that assets could be sold off or that the company could merge or be brought out, but this has been restricted due to the recent merger.  Though I think Disney might be a worthy partner, with all of the issues Disney has had following the purchase of 20th Century Fox, I don’t think they are in a position to do anything.  I could easily see Warner Brothers Discovery getting swallowed up by Comcast or reaching a deal with Paramount.

Are you looking to take out the Disney+, Hulu and Max bundle?  Let me know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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