Former Apple TV+ executive Pete Distad has been named the CEO of the new joint sports streaming service that is being created by ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery. Distad is a leader an experienced leader in media, sports and technology. He was previously at Apple for a decade and before that, he was at Hulu for six years. Disney shared that he will “assume oversight of all aspects of the joint venture, including overall strategy, distribution, marketing, sales and more.”
“This is an incredible opportunity to build and grow a differentiated product that will serve passionate sports fans in the US outside of the traditional pay TV bundle,” Distad said. “I’m excited to be able to pull together the industry-leading sports content portfolios from these three companies to deliver a new best-in-class service.”
ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery released a joint statement saying, “Pete is an accomplished innovator and leader who has extensive experience with launching and growing new video services. We are confident he and his team will build an extremely compelling, fan-focused product for our target market.”
Once this joint venture is established, Distad will be reporting to its board of directors. The board will include representatives that are selected by each of the three companies. The headquarters for this venture will be in Los Angeles in yet-to-be-established offices. There will also be an independent management that Distad will be assembling.
About Pete Distad
Distad worked at Apple from 2013-2023, where he was responsible for the business, operations and global distribution for Video, Sports and Apple TV+. While there, he launched the new Apple TV in 2015, and later led teams that launched and scaled the Apple TV app, Apple TV+, and MLS Season Pass. He originally joined the company to lead product marketing for the Apple TV hardware product.
His Hulu experience (2007-2013) included serving as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Distribution on the executive team. He was part of the original Hulu launch team, overseeing customer acquisition and retention, distribution and marketing.
Prior to Hulu, Distad worked in various technology and management consulting roles, including at McKinsey & Company, Calence (now Insight) and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).
About the Sports Streaming Service
The innovative new platform, announced in February, will bring together the companies’ portfolios of sports networks and certain of their direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services – including content from all the major professional sports leagues and college sports. The formation of the pay service is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements amongst the parties.
The sports streaming offering, scheduled to launch in the fall of 2024, 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 and/or Max.
The platform would aggregate content to offer fans an extensive, dynamic lineup of sports content, aiming to provide a new and differentiated experience to serve sports fans, particularly those outside of the traditional pay TV bundle.
By subscribing to this focused, all-in-one premier sports service, fans would have access to the linear sports networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV, as well as ESPN+.
More details, including a name, pricing and additional staff, will be announced at a later date.
What do you think of Pete Distad being named the head of this new sports streaming service? Are you excited about this service? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
