Fubo CEO: NBC Channels Won’t Return

We figured this was coming, but now it’s official. Important NBCUniversal channels like NBC, Telemundo, MS NOW, and E! are not coming back to Fubo.

In today’s earnings call, Fubo CEO David Gandler explained how it all went down.

“Through November, our teams were engaged in renewal discussions with NBCU. Following the confirmation of the Versant spinoff, we paused discussions to allow the separation process to proceed,” Gandler sais. “Beginning in early January, Comcast ceased engagement in renewal discussions despite multiple outreach attempts. Comcast indicated that they are satisfied with their existing Hulu Live arrangement and do not intend to engage in renewal discussions on the Fubo side at this time, preferring to re-engage closer to the Hulu Live expiration.“

“Given that most commercial terms had been largely aligned prior to the Versant spinoff, this position is very difficult to reconcile,” Gandler said. “Importantly, the subscriber impact to date has been modest since the removal of NBC content and better than our expectations. We believe this reflects the resilience of our sports-focused value proposition, the actions we took to preserve consumer value including our decision to lower prices, and customers’ ability to supplement Fubo with Peacock. While we remain open to constructive engagement, we will review the role of the NBCU and Versant portfolios as we continue to evaluate content alignment for our 6 million+ subscriber base.”

Gandler is counting the Hulu + Live TV number in that subscriber base. Fubo itself only counts for about one-fourth of the total.

If you’re looking for a ray of light, Comcast may be fine losing Fubo’s roughly 1.5 million subscribers, but that Hulu + Live TV audience is larger. And when that carriage deal expires, Comcast will be face negotiations with a company that controls the second-largest live TV subscriber pool.

To give you an idea of how badly things are going at Fubo, the company is doing a reverse stock split, which is a sign of tremendous distress. It’s also concerning when the CEO replies to meme traders on Twitter, trying to juice his stock.

What Channels Have Gone Dark on Fubo?

What Are the Best Fubo Alternatives to Watch NBCUniversal Channels?

Watching NBC with an Antenna

If you have an antenna lying around, you can use it to watch NBC for free as long as you can access the signal from your local affiliate. I’ve attached my antenna to a HD Homerun so I can stream dozens of channels on all my devices at no additional cost.

Watching NBC and Bravo Shows with Peacock

Peacock is a streaming service featuring on-demand access to current and former NBC hits like “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Chicago Fire,” “Scrubs,” “30 Rock,” and “Community.”

The $16.99 Premium Plus plan offers access to your live, local NBC affiliate.

Read our full Peacock review.

Watching All NBCUniversal Channels with DIRECTV

DIRECTV is a great live TV option with several different channel packages. In fact, DIRECTV offers more channels than any other live streamer. NBC is available on the following packages: MyNews ($39.99), MySports ($69.99), Entertainment ($86.99), Choice ($114.99) Ultimate ($129.99) and Premier ($169.99).

You’ll get an unlimited DVR, unlimited streams at home, and a very friendly user interface. It’s my top choice for first-time cord-cutters.

If you need regional sports channels, DIRECTV offers more than every other live TV service.

Read our full DIRECTV review.

Watching NBC with Sling TV

I’ve used Sling TV extensively because it’s always been one of the least expensive live TV streamers. You won’t get every channel you may need, but you have the ability to flex your subscription up or down to save money or add more channels. Choose the Sling Blue or Orange + Blue package to access NBC.

One trick to watch out for is that NBC is only available with Sling in the following markets:

• Boston
• Chicago
• Dallas/Fort Worth
• Hartford/New Haven
• Los Angeles
• Miami/Fort Lauderdale
• New York
• Philadelphia
• San Diego
• San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
• Washington, D.C.

If you don’t live near one of those markets, you’d need an antenna, Peacock, or another provider for NBC.

Read our full Sling TV review.

Watching All NBCUniversal Channels with Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV might be the best value in live TV streaming. Not only do you get a generous channel lineup, you also get free Disney+, ESPN Unlimited, and Hulu on-demand. It’s a great package for families. Many users complain about the clunky interface. Still, it’s a ton of entertainment for a fair price and you will be able to stream NBC.

Read our full Hulu + Live TV review.

Watching All NBCUniversal Channels with YouTube TV

YouTube TV is quickly becoming a dinosaur in the live TV streaming world. It was my go-to solution for several years, but I dropped it as the price climbed and the channel lineup remained stale. It’s nearly the same price as Hulu + Live TV but without the free streaming services. YouTube TV does carry NBC.

Read our full YouTube TV review.