Ever since the three media giants announced a new sports-focused streaming service last month, key details of the project have been shrouded in mystery. How much does it cost? Where will you be based? And who will lead the new company?
Now, some details are starting to emerge.
On Friday, the companies behind the service, Fox, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery, announced that Pete Distad, a former Apple executive who was in charge of distributing the tech giant's streaming service, Apple TV+, announced that the service would be owned by Fox, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. He announced that he would be leading the charge. Distad, 50, will be based in Los Angeles and will be responsible for strategy, distribution, marketing and sales once the new business is officially established.
By selecting Mr. Distad, an executive with experience in both technology and media, the company behind the service is ensuring that the new service combines the old economics of cable TV with the promise of a rapidly evolving streaming business. It showed that we need leaders who understand. Before joining Apple, Distad helped launch Hulu, the last major streaming joint venture.
Distad said in a statement that he looks forward to bringing together the three companies' “industry-leading sports content portfolio.”
“This is an exciting opportunity to build and grow a differentiated product that serves America's passionate sports fans outside of traditional pay-TV bundles,” Distad said.
During his time at Apple, Distad helped fuel the tech giant's expansion into the live sports realm. During his tenure, Apple signed deals to stream Major League Soccer games and Major League Baseball games, joining a growing list of technology companies such as Amazon that now offer customers access to live sports.
The company behind the service said in a statement that Dystad is an “excellent innovator and leader” with “extensive experience launching and growing new video services.”
“We are confident that he and his team will build a highly appealing, fan-focused product for our target market,” the companies said.
