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Key Takeaways
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DirecTV on Tuesday unveiled MySports, "an industry-first sports-centric package" aimed at sports fans who might not want to pay for entertainment, family and other channels.
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On Friday Venu Sports, the streaming service combining the services of The Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FOX, was called off before its launch.
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ESPN is set to launch a direct-to-consumer sports streaming service this fall.
DirecTV has concluded that there are fans out there who would pay $70 a month essentially just for sports channels.
Satellite provider DirecTV on Tuesday unveiled "industry-first sports-centric package" MySports, aimed at sports nuts who might not want to pay for entertainment, family, and other channels. The package is currently available in 24 metro areas, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with more planned.
"There is a sizable market for skinnier packages, particularly live sports and the ability to gain access to content from across programmers all in one place," a DirecTV spokesperson said in response to an Investopedia request for comment about the potential market for the service.
MySports "includes national and local channels in select markets, as well as live news channels," DirecTV said, but it is marketing it as "the only lineup packed exclusively with sports channels."
ESPN, FOX, WBD Joint Sports Streaming Service Recently Called Off Before Launch
On Friday, Venu Sports—the streaming offering combining the services of Walt Disney Co.'s (DIS) ESPN, FOX (FOX), and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)—was called off before it could launch.
That news came days after Disney and FuboTV (FUBO) said they would resolve one of the legal challenges against Venu Sports by merging streaming competitor Fubo—which had sued to block Venu's launch—with Disney's Hulu + Live TV offering. DirecTV and Dish parent EchoStar (SATS) had filed letters with a judge requesting her preliminary injunction blocking the launch not be lifted.
"We've been pushing for a sports-centric skinny package for years, and secured the necessary rights from programmers (including former Venu partners and others) over the past several months," a DirecTV spokesperson said.
ESPN Set to Launch DTC Sports Streaming Service This Fall
In a joint statement announcing the end of Venu Sports, ESPN, FOX, and Warner Bros. Discovery said "it was best to meet the evolving demands of sports fans by focusing on existing products and distribution channels."