Disney to Merge Hulu + Live TV with Fubo, Ending the Battle Over Venu Sports
In what can only be described as a shocking development, Disney has reached an agreement with Fubo to combine Hulu + Live TV with the streaming service.
Under the new agreement, Disney will acquire a 70% stake in Fubo, which will launch a new sports and broadcasting service.
According to The Wrap, both services will continue to exist separately, and the Fubo management team will remain in place.
Photo: Hulu
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Disney to create a consumer-first streaming company that combines the strengths of the Fubo and Hulu + Live TV brands,” Fubo co-founder and CEO David Gandler said in a statement.
Photo: Deadline
“This combination enables us to deliver on our promise to provide consumers with greater choice and flexibility. Additionally, this agreement allows us to scale effectively, strengthens Fubo’s balance sheet and positions us for positive cash flow. It’s a win for consumers, our shareholders, and the entire streaming industry.”
The Venu Sports Saga Comes to an End
The stunning agreement will also end Fubo’s antitrust lawsuit against Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox over the launch of Venu Sports.
Now that Hulu Live + TV and Fubo are merging, Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. have agreed to pay Fubo $220 million, with Disney providing an additional $145 million loan to the streamer in 2026.
Photo: Venu
Instead of launching Venu, which would have brought together the biggest stations in sports media to create a new streaming service, Fubo will deliver the new streamer. The new sports-centric service will combine Fubo’s existing channels with the ESPN family of networks.
A Change of Tone From Fubo
Just months ago, Fubo’s CEO referred to Disney and its joint venture partners as racketeers and warned investors that the battle over Venu was a “duel to the death.”
“I think that this is a duel to the death. It has been when we started this company,” he said. “We are fighting for the tens of billions of dollars that are wasted annually by consumers paying for the same content multiple times.”
Photo: Venu
By essentially buying out Fubo, Disney will not be able to launch its sports-centric streaming service while also increasing its footprint in the streaming landscape.
A New Era of Disney Streaming
According to Disney, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo have a combined $6.2 million subscribers.
“This combination will allow both Hulu + Live TV and Fubo to enhance and expand their virtual MVPD offerings and provide consumers with even more choice and flexibility,” Justin Warbrooke, Walt Disney Company EVP and head of Corporate Development said.
Photo: Disney
“We have confidence in the Fubo management team and their ability to grow the business, delivering high-quality offerings that serve subscribers with the content they want and offering great value.”
This ends the saga of Venu Sports and begins yet another distribution method for Disney.
