Lachlan Murdoch On Launch Plans, Subscriber Outlook For New Fox Streaming Platform

deadline.com:

Lachlan Murdoch said Fox is targeting a fall football season launch for its new streaming platform run by Pete Distad with modest initial subscriber projections in the “mid-single digit millions.” He announced last month the streamer would launch by year end, saying it would be “holistic” of all the company’s content including Fox Sports and Fox News.

In comments at the Morgan Stanley media conference, the Fox CEO was again extremely careful to stress that the goal is not to cannibalize linear television and Fox will not advertise it on linear television but is meant purely to capture those who cut the cord or have never subscribed to cable.

More details like the name and price are still to come. “We brought Pete in and Pete’s focus at Venu and now at our venture is new subscribers that are outside of the bundle,” Murdoch said.

Distad had been CEO of Venu Sports, the streaming joint venture of Fox, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. Advances under Venu, which was sued but shuttered before it went to court or launched, have been key in allowing the new service to get up to speed relatively quickly.