FOX is making a major shift in its streaming strategy. The company is shutting down its FOX Sports app on smart TVs and connected devices and pushing users toward its FOX One streaming service, according to a report from Awful Announcing. In an email sent on April 7, FOX Sports told customers the change will take effect in about 30 days, though mobile and web access to the FOX Sports app will remain available for now.
FOX One is FOX’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, which launched on August 21, 2025. Built as an all-in-one destination for news, sports, and entertainment, the service currently starts at $19.99 per month after a 7-day free trial. It includes a wide range of FOX programming, including FOX News Channel, FOX Business Network, FOX Weather, FOX Sports, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network, local FOX stations, and the FOX broadcast network.
The standalone streamer also introduces features the old FOX Sports app never offered. Multiview and cloud DVR for sports are front and center, along with bundle options like FOX One + FOX Nation and FOX One + ESPN, positioning the service as a more complete streaming hub rather than a single-purpose sports app.
The shift comes as media companies race to meet changing viewer habits and growing demand for standalone streaming options. Early signs showed momentum as FOX One and ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service combined for roughly 1 million sign-ups in their first 10 days. Still, the rollout wasn’t without issues. Early users ran into logout glitches across Roku, Apple TV, mobile apps, and web browsers, which is a common growing pain for new platforms, but one that frustrated viewers trying to watch live games.
Despite those hiccups, FOX One has continued to gain traction, surpassing 2 million subscribers in its early months. The service is also being bundled into live TV streaming platforms like Fubo, giving subscribers another way to access FOX One without paying separately. By shutting down the FOX Sports app on connected TVs, FOX is clearly doubling down on a platform that’s already showing growth.
And FOX is not alone in this approach. Media companies are increasingly consolidating content into a single flagship app instead of maintaining a patchwork of network-specific apps. NBCUniversal made a similar move last year when it shut down its cable network apps on Roku devices to steer users toward Peacock.
That strategy is backed by a steady content push. FOX One’s April slate is packed with live sports and seasonal programming, including weekly UFL and Saturday baseball coverage, NASCAR from Talladega, and LIV Golf, alongside entertainment returns like MasterChef and Farmer Wants a Wife. As FOX phases out legacy apps, FOX One is quickly becoming the company’s central hub for keeping cord cutters connected year-round.
Credit: Awful Announcing