No, Fubo Won’t Go Away When It Merges With Hulu + Live TV

Sometime in the next 9 months, Fubo is going to merge with Hulu + Live TV. There are still plenty of questions about what things look like after the merger, but we do know that Hulu + Live TV and Fubo will still exist as separate live TV options.

Disney owns all of Hulu, and it will take over 70% of Fubo ownership.

What Will Change?

Initially, the changes will occur behind the scenes as Disney consolidates its workforce. Given Disney’s leverage, we may see Discovery Global channels like TNT, CNN, and TBS returning to Fubo.

In the next few months, Fubo is expected to launch a new Sports & Broadcasting package that could rival DIRECTV’s MySports bundle. Smaller channel bundles aren’t always a great value, but anything that helps lower the cost is good.

All of this comes against the backdrop of Disney launching its own ESPN Unlimited app, which could pull some subscribers away from traditional cable or the larger TV streamers.

It is possible Fubo disappears in the next few years or simply becomes a different tier on Hulu + Live TV. I’ve used Fubo in the past and it’s a nice service, but the price is far too high and it’s missing too many channels.

Why Is Fubo Merging with Hulu + Live TV?

Basically, it’s a bribe. Disney was planning to team up with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery to offer a sports streamer called Venu Sports for $42.99/month. It would have had 14 linear networks: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, SEC Network, ACC Network, FOX, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS, and truTV. It was also to include ESPN+.

But Fubo sued those companies, claiming that they were rigging their prices so providers like Fubo had to pay for channels they didn’t want (like Disney XD and Freeform) to get access to sports channels like ESPN.

A judge agreed with Fubo and issued a preliminary injunction in August of 2024. That brought Venu to a screeching halt.

The injunction itself is a fascinating read. It lays out some previously hidden secrets of the TV world.

• Sports networks cost $1.30 per subscriber per month to license
• Non-sports networks cost just 71 cents per subscriber per month
• ESPN costs TV services a whopping $9.42 per subscriber per month
• Regional Sprots Networks cost between $3.50-$8.50 per subscriber per month
• TNT costs $3.00 per month per subscriber, but that will likely drop with the loss of the NBA

To prevent further legal headaches, Disney brass thought it was simpler to back up an armored car to the Fubo CEO’s house.

So for now, Fubo CEO David Gandler will get to stick around, but it’s only a matter of time before he gets a buyout and Disney right-sizes its live TV operation.