Following the cancellation of its sports-centric direct-to-consumer (DTC) streamer partnership, Venu Sports, in late 2024, Fox Corp. announced plans for a broader streaming service launching later in 2025. The unnamed service, revealed during a February 4, 2025 earnings call by Lachlan Murdoch, will feature content from across Fox’s media holdings, encompassing both news and sports.
Murdoch stated the service targets cord-cutters, those unlikely to subscribe to traditional linear TV. He aims to minimize impact on declining cable and satellite numbers. Importantly, the service will not feature original content, instead drawing from existing programming across its networks and brands. The service’s potential impact on Fox’s Hulu content deals remains unclear.
Fox’s late 2024 agreement with Disney’s Hulu secures the streaming rights for Fox’s primetime shows, including “The Masked Singer,” for four years. Unless clauses allow otherwise, the new DTC offering may initially lack these shows. Unlike competitors like NBC (Peacock) and CBS (Paramount+), Fox avoids creating a dedicated streamer for its primetime content. This allows for joint marketing of ABC and Fox content on Hulu, enhancing appeal.
Fox’s existing free, ad-supported streaming service, Tubi, complements this strategy. The new, paid Fox DTC service will require a monthly subscription fee, unlike Tubi or the previous free tier of Peacock. Pricing details remain undisclosed. Fox’s entry intensifies competition in the already saturated DTC streaming market. Viewers face “streamer fatigue,” with multiple subscriptions becoming the norm, potentially costing as much as traditional cable or satellite TV.
Streamers offer advantages, bypassing carriage fees and boosting revenue. Ad-supported tiers mitigate churn, but consumer preference for ad-free options remains significant. Targeted advertising offers streamers an advantage over traditional TV, but privacy concerns limit the full use of subscriber data.