ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced on February 6, 2024, plans to launch a sports streaming platform this fall that will include services from at least 15 networks and all four major professional sports leagues. David Cole—Associated Press
Streaming service FuboTV has filed an antitrust lawsuit against ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery and Hulu, which are planning to launch sports streaming ventures in the fall.
The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York. FuboTV, which primarily focuses on live sports, is seeking a jury trial.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the lawsuit.
“Each of these companies monopolizes markets, stifles all forms of competition, and commands high prices for subscribers,” said David Gandler, co-founder and CEO of FuboTV. , has consistently engaged in anti-competitive conduct aimed at deceiving consumers from their natural choices.” statement. “Simply put, this sports cartel has been sabotaging our strategy for years, and now they're effectively stealing it for themselves.”
ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery and Hulu declined to comment on the lawsuit.
FuboTV said in its filing that it has been trying to offer a dedicated sports streaming service for years, but was prevented from doing so by ESPN. Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery have imposed bundling requirements on FuboTV, forcing “Fubo to spend hundreds of millions of dollars licensing and broadcasting content that customers do not want or need.” It states that
“Faced with the threat of disruptive competition from Fubo and other startups, the defendants locked down their weapons to steal Fubo's core business idea: sports-centric channel packages (and lock out other companies). ), the company responded by simultaneously blocking Fubo from offering the same package,” the company said in a court filing.
ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Hulu announced plans to offer sports streaming services on February 6th. The three companies will each share one-third ownership of the joint venture. The service name and price will be announced at a later date.
Not only does FuboTV want the proposed joint venture to be shut down, it is also seeking cash damages. If the court does not rule on doing either, FuboTV is seeking restrictions on the joint venture to maintain competition in the market.
FuboTV was founded in 2015. In its most recent quarterly report last November, the company reported 1.48 million paid subscribers in North America in the third quarter, a record high for the company.
