Editor’s note: After this story was first published, The Desk received additional information about Fubo Sports Network’s broadcast TV distribution plans. Read the updated story by clicking or tapping here. The original story appears below:
Fubo is bringing some of its niche sports programming to free broadcast television, the media company announced on Monday.
The Fubo Sports Network is expected to reach broadcast TV users in as many as 100 TV markets across the country, including the three biggest markets: New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.
A press release issued by Fubo on Monday was light on details, including whether the company had inked a distribution agreement with any over-the-air broadcast network to offer its channel or whether it is looking to distribute Fubo Sports Network through affiliate deals or by leasing time on existing digital broadcast channels.
Fubo claimed the over-the-air version of the Fubo Sports Network is already being distributed by a handful of digital broadcasters that collectively reach 12 million households, but the company didn’t say who was distributing its sports channel, and offered no guidance on how broadcast TV viewers can find Fubo Sports Network on broadcast TV in any market.
Still, Fubo appears intent on capitalizing on the reach of free broadcast TV, which has grown in adoption as consumers look for cheap ways to watch local programming and network news and sports in an era of rising cable and satellite bills.
“In today’s connected and competitive media market, it’s important to reach consumers everywhere they are, whether that be through streaming or traditional platforms,” Pamela Duckworth, the Head of Fubo Studios, said in a statement. “While cord-cutting is continuing to accelerate, there are still millions of American households who rely on OTA for sports, news and entertainment. Expanding distribution of our owned & operated linear Fubo Sports network to OTA stations maximizes accessibility for consumers while also creating a new revenue stream for Fubo.”
On Monday, Fubo made the rare comment that Fubo Sports Network is “female-founded,” though very few of the sports programming carried on the network focus exclusively on women’s sports. Instead, Fubo Sports Network offers replays of events from Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), World Poker Tour and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) — events that are carried on some other free streaming networks.
