Since the three media titans announced their recent sports-focused streaming service last month, key details of the project have been shrouded in mystery. How much would it not cost? Where would it not be based? And who would run the recent company?
Now some details are starting to return into focus.
On Friday, the firms behind the service – Fox, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery – said it will be led by Pete Distad, a former Apple executive who was liable for distributing the tech giant’s Apple TV+ streaming service. Mr. Distad, 50, will be liable for the strategy, distribution, marketing and sales of the recent enterprise once it’s formally established, based in Los Angeles.
By choosing Mr. Distad, an executive with a mixture of technology and media experience, the firms behind the service signaled that the recent service needed a pacesetter who understood the old-fashioned economics of cable television and the guarantees of the rapidly growing streaming business. Before joining Apple, Mr. Distad helped found Hulu, the last major streaming three way partnership.
In a press release, Mr Distad said he looked forward to combining the three firms’ “industry-leading sports content portfolios.”
“This is an incredible opportunity to build and grow a differentiated product that will serve passionate U.S. sports fans beyond the traditional pay TV package,” Distad said.
While at Apple, Mr. Distad helped drive the tech giant’s expansion into live sports. During his tenure, Apple struck deals to stream Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball games, joining a growing list of technology firms similar to Amazon that now offer their customers access to live sporting events.
In a press release, the firms behind the service called Mr. Distad “a recognized innovator and leader” with “extensive experience in introducing and developing new video services.”
“We are confident that he and his team will create an extremely compelling, fan-centric product for our target market,” the firms said.
