Just Weeks After Striking a Deal With YouTube TV, Disney Finds Itself In Another Carriage Dispute
One week after Disney struck a deal with Google to end the blackout of their stations on YouTube TV, the company finds itself in the middle of another carriage deal.
The latest controversy stems from Fubo’s decision to remove all NBCUniversal channels after the two parties failed to reach a new deal.
Photo: Deadline
Disney, of course, recently finalized a $220 million purchase of a controlling stake in Fubo and subsequently combined the service with Hulu.
Fubo and NBCU Are Now at Odds
Less than one month later, NBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, Golf Channel, Telemundo, NBC affiliates, and NBC Sports have been removed from the service.
Comcast
While the timing of the latest blackout has raised eyebrows, Fubo has a history of taking a hard line in its carriage deal.
Photo: Deadline
According to the service, NBCU is pricing its stations “egregiously above” what other distributors pay.
“NBCU is spinning off some of their cable networks into a new company called Versant on Jan 1, 2026. Despite them not being worth the cost to Fubo subscribers, Fubo offered to distribute Versant channels for one year,” Fubo said in a statement. “NBCU wants Fubo to sign a multi-year deal – well past the time the Versant channels will be owned by a separate company. NBCU wants Fubo subscribers to subsidize these channels.”
Photo: CNET
As with past carriage deals we have seen, the sticking point is once again “skinny bundles.”
“Earlier this year, Fubo launched Fubo Sports, a cost-effective sports-focused service. NBCU wants Fubo to add expensive, non-sports channels, which will drive up the price paid by Fubo subscribers,” they continued.
The Current Situation
While the Fubo/NBCU impasse is a much more minor tiff than Disney/YouTube TV, the blackout will leave 1.63 million subscribers without many of their favorite stations.
Photo: Fubo
Specifically, Fubo subscribers will miss out on Sunday Night Football until the deadlock is resolved.
Photo: NFL
For now, the streaming service is offering customers a $15 credit for their inconvenience.
As always, be sure to check back with MickeyBlog. We will continue to update you on all the news coming out of The Walt Disney Company.
Photo: MickeyBlog
