Disney Tightens Its Grip on Streaming TV With Acquisition of Fubo — and Turns Up the Heat on YouTube TV

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Disney’s dispute with YouTube TV has taken a surprising turn. While they argue over how much Disney should be paid to carry channels like ESPN, ABC, and FX – potentially leading to those channels being removed from YouTube TV – Disney has secretly become the majority owner of Fubo, another streaming service specializing in sports. This deal explains a lot about Disney’s strategy, as Fubo was previously considered a competitor to Disney’s own Hulu + Live TV.

This move immediately makes Disney a major player in the world of streaming TV in North America, especially considering their current dispute with YouTube TV over content costs and potential channel removals. It’s clear this isn’t accidental; it’s a strategic power play, and YouTube TV now faces a much stronger competitor.

A Streaming Giant Just Got Bigger

When Disney combined Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, they created a major streaming service with almost 6 million subscribers. This quickly put them ahead of many rivals and made them the sixth-largest pay-TV provider in the U.S.

Though Hulu and Fubo will still operate as separate brands, combining their technology gives Disney a much stronger position in the live TV streaming world. Hulu + Live TV already included Disney+, ESPN+, and a wide variety of on-demand shows and movies. Now, by adding Fubo’s expertise in sports streaming and advertising, Disney can offer a complete streaming experience for both families and sports fans.

This deal gives Disney access to $145 million in funding, better advertising tools, and lower costs for TV channels thanks to customizable programming options. Essentially, Disney can now offer the same content that YouTube TV is trying to protect, but in a way that benefits Disney directly.

A Convenient Merger at a Convenient Time

Disney recently completed its purchase of Fubo, but is still in a disagreement with YouTube TV. Their current agreement ends October 30th at midnight Eastern Time, and if they can’t reach a new one, Disney channels like ESPN and ABC could be removed from YouTube TV.

YouTube TV says Disney is asking for expensive deals that would likely increase prices for viewers and limit what they can watch. They claim this would unfairly benefit Disney’s competing live TV service, Hulu + Live TV.

Now that Disney controls both Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, their previous actions seem less like hard bargaining and more like attempts to control the market. Disney has moved beyond just supplying content; they’re now directly competing with the services they’re negotiating with.

Disney can raise the price of YouTube TV by demanding higher fees for its channels. This makes its own streaming service, Hulu + Live TV, and competitor Fubo appear cheaper, giving them an advantage. This strategy weakens competition and helps Disney maintain its strong position in sports, news, and entertainment.

Skirting the Edge of Antitrust

This merger follows a contentious history. Fubo previously filed a lawsuit against Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, claiming they acted unfairly when they canceled their sports streaming venture, Venu Sports. A judge sided with Fubo, ruling the venture would have created a monopoly and ultimately blocking its launch last year.

Disney now directly owns Fubo, avoiding the antitrust issues that prevented them from working with the company before. Rather than partnering with Fubo and facing regulatory hurdles, Disney simply bought the entire company, achieving the same benefits through a purchase instead of a collaboration.

This agreement lets Disney sidestep further investigation and achieves its main goal: complete ownership of a rival live TV streaming platform.

The Industry Impact

When the dust settles, Disney will have direct control over:

  • Hulu + Live TV (entertainment-driven, general-audience streaming)
  • Fubo (sports-focused live-TV streaming)
  • ESPN’s standalone service
  • Disney+ and Hulu on-demand platforms

I’ve been watching Disney closely, and it’s striking how many different ways they’re guiding people into their own services – five, actually, all working together! And with the potential for YouTube TV, which so many people rely on, to lose Disney channels, it feels pretty clear who would gain viewers if that happened. It really seems like they’re positioning themselves perfectly.

Disney can easily pretend it’s not responsible for issues across its streaming services, claiming each one is run separately, even though they all ultimately contribute to the company’s overall profits.

Turning Up the Heat on YouTube TV

It’s easy to see what’s really happening here. Despite Disney’s claims about building more open and consumer-friendly streaming options, their moves actually demonstrate a clear effort to gain control over the entire television industry.

This purchase strengthens Disney’s position, allowing it to set prices, manage sports broadcasting deals, and influence how live events are delivered to audiences. It’s understandable that YouTube TV is concerned—Disney’s expanded power now allows it to compete directly and potentially limit access to its channels for competitors.

Over the next few days, YouTube TV will either agree to Disney’s terms or could lose access to popular channels like ESPN, ABC, and FX. Either way, Disney is becoming even more powerful in the world of streaming TV, especially now with their recent purchase of Fubo.

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2025-10-29 20:57