Disney Secures Majority Stake in FuboTV, Reshaping Sports Streaming Landscape

NEW YORK — The sports streaming landscape underwent a seismic shift this month as Disney announced a deal to acquire a 70% stake in FuboTV, effectively merging its Hulu With Live TV service with the independent sports streamer. The agreement, finalized on Jan. 6, marks the end of FuboTV’s antitrust lawsuit against Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery‘s now-defunct Venu Sports project.

Under the terms of the deal, FuboTV will retain its independence as a publicly traded company while gradually absorbing Hulu With Live TV over the next year. Disney will gain majority control of Fubo’s board and pay a substantial settlement, while also signing a distribution agreement to offer a new bundled service combining ESPN, Fubo, ABC, and ESPN+.

“This isn’t really a case of ‘if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,'” said veteran TV journalist Rick Ellis. “Fubo could have pursued its antitrust case, but lacking substantial market position or cash reserves, it found the most convenient solution to be the most advantageous one.”

The merger, dubbed “Fulu” by industry insiders, will create a sports streaming powerhouse with access to Disney’s ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s sports licenses. The deal effectively kills the proposed Venu Sports project, which aimed to pool all three broadcasters’ sports rights into a single service.

Disney’s move has drawn criticism from competitors and consumer advocates. DirecTV and EchoStar have filed motions to intervene in the Fubo-Disney lawsuit, arguing that antitrust concerns remain unresolved. A separate federal lawsuit claims Disney’s dominant position could force independent streaming services to charge higher prices.

The new ESPN-Fubo-ABC-ESPN+ bundle is expected to launch by fall 2025, coinciding with the start of football season. While pricing details remain unclear, industry analysts predict it will undercut YouTube TV‘s $82.99 monthly fee but exceed FuboTV’s current $32.99 rate.

For sports fans, the merger signals a return to the cable-TV model, with bundled services offering more content than many consumers want. “If you love Disney’s ownership of ESPN, congrats,” said one industry analyst. “If you hate Disney’s monopolization, bad news—competitors will have to keep gobbling up everything they can to keep pace.”

As the streaming wars intensify, FuboTV’s decision to join forces with Disney marks a turning point in the industry’s evolution. What began as an antitrust challenge has become a strategic alliance, reshaping the future of sports broadcasting in the digital age.