Pete Distad, former Apple and Hulu executive, has been named CEO of the upcoming sports streaming service from Disney, Fox & Warner Bros. Discovery, set to launch in the fall. The service, which will offer coverage of major sports leagues, aims to bring together 14 linear network feeds from the joint venture's member companies. With projections of 5 million subscribers in the first five years, the service's pricing and specific offerings are still to be determined.
Fox, Disney's ESPN, and Warner Bros. Discovery are teaming up to launch a sports streaming platform targeting cord-cutters and cord-nevers, offering a skinnier sports bundle with popular live sports at a cheaper price than traditional cable packages. With an estimated 60-70 million cord-cutter and cord-never households in the U.S., the joint venture aims to tap into the growing market of sports fans turning to internet alternatives. The move reflects the accelerating shift away from traditional pay-TV models, with Disney also planning to offer a stand-alone ESPN streaming app.
Back to the Basket, a vintage basketball shop in Portland, celebrated Damian Lillard's return to the Moda Center with a watch party, showcasing the mutual love between Lillard and the city. Co-owners Troy Douglass and Jalen Thomas, lifelong Blazers fans, opened the shop in 2020, aiming to build a community hangout for all basketball fans. The shop's success was kickstarted by a hat worn by Lillard in 2014, and despite feeling the impact of Lillard's departure from the Blazers, the store remains committed to fostering a supportive community for basketball enthusiasts.
