Sports streamer Victory+ appears to be in major trouble
Sports streamer Victory+ appears to be in major trouble
The sports streamer has lost its NWSL package, and has removed its CEO as it tries to plot out a course for the future.
Sports streaming is a difficult tightrope to walk. Platforms have to pay a huge premium for live sports rights, and if they charge too much to access those rights, customers won’t even bother signing up. Charge too little, and there’s not enough revenue coming in to cover the expenses going out. Victory+ is beginning to show signs of these difficulties, having lost the rights to several partner teams and leagues over the past two weeks, leading to the company making a major executive change as a result.
Key Details:
- So long, soccer: The NWSL has departed from Victory+.
- Making changes: The streamer has opted to remove its CEO from his position.
- Hope remains?: Victory+ projects that it will keep its contract with the Dallas Stars.
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has opted to depart from Victory+ after a missed rights fee payment. Starting on Sunday, Aug. 2, all NWSL matches formerly scheduled to appear on Victory+ will be available to stream for free on NWSL+ instead. Victory+ was scheduled to air 57 NWSL matches in 2026, now leaving a major hole in the platform’s offerings.
The departure of the NWSL is just the latest defection Victory+ has had to contend with. The streamer also saw Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers exit earlier this month, as well as the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks just a few days later. The service that was once seen as a viable alternative to failing regional sports networks is clearly in serious trouble.
As a result, Victory+ has opted to remove founder Neil Gruninger from his CEO position. Per a statement from the company, Gruninger will “more closely focus on strategic relationships, business development, and long-term vision, areas where he has consistently driven significant value.” Board member Jon Spencer will take over the chief executive’s chair.
Victory+ is now looking to shrink to see if it can stay alive with a slimmed-down roster of sports. Per reporting from Sports Business Journal, Victory+ intends to keep its streaming rights deal with the Dallas Stars, which has been in place since 2024. The streamer also expects to maintain deals with the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream. Its Texas prep football and League One Volleyball rights should also be unaffected.
Throughout his tenure as CEO, Gruninger was convinced that offering games to viewers for free was the best model. The streamer agreed to pay teams a minimum amount for their games, then add to that revenue through collaborative advertising. The Texas Rangers were allowed to put their games behind a paywall, but other teams on the platform streamed their games free for customers.
The unique pricing model of Victory+ was able to attract teams initially, but additional funding needed to keep the streamer on its feet simply never materialized. Sources tell SBJ that if the Stars do indeed stay with Victory+, a reboot of the streamer is possible, but otherwise, it may become just another failed streaming experiment.
VICTORY+
VICTORY+ was a video streaming service that featured live coverage of various sports teams and leagues, including the NSWL, MLB, NHL, and high school sports. The service also included Red Bull sports, Dude Perfect content, and fishing programs.