David Bloom

Record U.S. viewership for FIFA's World Cup is fueling an intense bidding war for the 2030 and 2034 tournament TV rights. Major tech and media giants like Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Fox, Comcast, and Disney are all vying for the combined English and Spanish language package, which FIFA is offering for two cycles. While the current World Cup saw unprecedented North American audiences, future tournaments in Europe/South America and Saudi Arabia may present viewership timing challenges. Incumbent broadcasters Fox and Comcast face financial complexities from recent acquisitions and planned spin-offs, potentially hindering their bids against deep-pocketed tech companies. The US rights alone could command $1.5 billion to $2 billion, making this a high-stakes contest.

A Wells Fargo analyst suggests Disney exit the streaming business, arguing it could boost share prices by 40% and unlock billions in content licensing revenue. Steven Cahall believes Disney should return to its core strength of producing content rather than distributing it, simplifying its business model. However, internal reports indicate Disney is exploring opposite strategies, including embracing live-TV bundles, offering content on rival platforms, and even free tiers. CEO Josh D'Amaro faces pressure to redefine Disney's strategy, as streaming has been costly and hasn't significantly improved stock performance, unlike past activist investor interventions. The broader streaming market is challenging, with declining engagement and consumer cost concerns pushing companies like Disney to consider radical alternatives.

Versant Media is transforming Fandango into a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) platform, leveraging live sports to compete with services like Tubi and Roku Channel. The company, spun off from NBCUniversal, launched a "We love free" campaign for the rebranded Fandango. A major five-year deal with Germany's Bundesliga will bring over 300 soccer matches to Fandango and USA Network, complementing its existing English Premier League partnership. These free-to-stream sports aim to attract viewers and advertisers, boosting carriage negotiations. Fandango will also feature 3,500 hours of content from Versant's cable networks, including Golf Channel and MS Now. This strategy seeks to retain Fandango's 50 million monthly movie ticket visitors and expand its audience, with Versant actively pursuing more sports rights beyond the costly NFL.

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