Venu demise causes IndyCar streaming headache

The NTT IndyCar Series finds itself with a significant new problem that affects fans who prefer to consume its racing through a widely available streaming platform.

In its move from the NBC network and its Peacock streaming service to FOX, IndyCar’s streaming plan was twofold, with one option available to cable customers through authentication via the FOX Sports app, and the second through the Venu Sports app that was due to launch as an independent subscription service late in 2024 with the likes of ESPN, FOX, and Warner Brothers as its featured partners.

A lawsuit from rival streamer Fubo TV made bringing Venu Sports to life an impossibility while litigation was ongoing, and in a development last Monday, Fubo TV dropped the case as part of merging with The Walt Disney Company.

Freed of the lawsuit, optimism for Venu Sports moving forward with its streaming platform was high until it cloused on Friday when the key channels in Venu’s stable announced they would not engage with Venu. ESPN, as one of the larger components in the Venu bundle, crafted a new plan while Venu was prevented from hitting the market, and is expected to launch a dedicated streaming service of its own later this year.

“In an ever-changing marketplace, we determined that it was best to meet the evolving demands of sports fans by focusing on existing products and distribution channels,” ESPN, FOX, and Warner Brothers said on Friday.

Where fans were able to pay between $8 per month (with ads) or $14 (without) to use NBC’s Peacock streaming service while it carried IndyCar, the demise of Venu means fans without cable subscriptions have two high-profile options to consider with YouTube TV at $83 per month, or Hulu + Live TV with multiple tiers available between $82 and $96 per month.

In speaking with a Penske Entertainment representative about the issue, RACER understands the series will focus on initiating its new relationship with FOX before evaluating its options and determining whether a deal can be struck with an independent streamer at a price point that’s less than tenfold of what it cost to use Peacock.