In a major consolidation move that promises to reshape the streaming television landscape, The Walt Disney Company announced Monday its plans to merge Hulu With Live TV with rival Fubo. The deal will create a formidable competitor to YouTube TV while maintaining distinct streaming brands under predominantly Disney control.
Under the terms of the agreement, Disney will hold a 70 percent stake in the combined entity, which will continue trading publicly under the Fubo name. While Disney will appoint the majority of the board, Fubo’s current leadership, including “co-founder and CEO David Gandler,” will manage the merged operation.
Streaming Rivals Join Forces
The merger, expected to take 12-18 months to complete, positions the combined service to challenge YouTube TV’s market dominance more effectively. YouTube TV reported 8 million subscribers last year, while the merger would unite Hulu + Live TV’s 4.6 million subscribers with Fubo’s 1.6 million, creating a service with 6.2 million total subscribers.
“We are now stewards of an iconic brand, with respect to Hulu,” Gandler stated during a Monday morning conference call, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining distinct service offerings. The merger will preserve both Hulu + Live TV and Fubo as separate brands, with Hulu remaining available in the broader Disney bundle. Notably, Fubo will independently handle carriage negotiations for both services.
The deal includes significant financial components, with Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery committing to pay Fubo $220 million. Disney will provide an additional $145 million term loan through 2026. A $130 million termination fee has been established if the deal fails to close under specific conditions.
One crucial outcome of the merger is the resolution of Fubo’s legal challenge against the Venu sports streaming service. The settlement paves the way for various ESPN viewing options at different price points, particularly significant as Disney prepares to launch its flagship ESPN streaming product later this year.
The agreement also enables Fubo to offer a more affordable bundle centered around ESPN and ABC, similar to Venu’s intended offering. Gandler emphasized this would allow Fubo “to deliver flexible, innovative and competitive content packages to consumers, particularly around sports.”
Fubo and Hulu Live TV Merge in Strategic Move
While the merger encompasses the virtual multichannel video provider (vMVPD) services, it excludes Hulu’s core streaming video-on-demand (SVOD) platform. Gandler acknowledged that maintaining separate platforms isn’t ideal but highlighted potential backend synergies in broadcasting, transmission, and content delivery network operations.
The executive outlined distinct positioning for both services post-merger, with Hulu + Live TV focusing on comprehensive entertainment bundles including sports, news, and entertainment, while Fubo will maintain its sports-first approach with new options for streamlined sports packages.
The strategic consolidation announced today signifies a pivotal moment in the dynamic and rapidly evolving streaming landscape.Â
As the industry looks at increased levels of competition; increased content, and production costs; and increasing demand for qualitative, engaging forms of entertainment among consumers, providers must increasingly recognize an imperative need to scale and acquire operational efficiency as a way out.
This deal reflects this changing reality, positioning the combined entity to navigate the challenges of the market better and deliver an even more compelling and competitive offering to consumers.
