disney (Dis) will merge its Hulu + Live TV business with sports streaming FuboTV (Fubo) in the first A major step towards making media deals For the year 2025.
According to A press releaseDisney will control 70% of Fubo. Shareholders of the sports streaming company will own the remaining 30% of the combined business, which will operate under the publicly traded Fubo name.
In conjunction with the deal, Fubo Settle all lawsuits With Disney, Fox (fox), Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) related to Venu Sports, the planned sports streaming platform previously announced by the trio.
Fubo shares rose nearly 250% on Monday in the wake of the announcement. There was little change in Disney shares, while Fox and WBD shares rose by about 1% and 3%, respectively.
The combination of the two companies will create one of the largest providers of digital pay-TV services as consumers look for alternatives to cable amid increased cord-cutting.
Fubo, which provides users access to live TV channels over the Internet, has focused primarily on sports and news. Hulu + Live TV, billed as an alternative option to cable — similar to YouTube TV — allows users to stream from about 100 live TV channels across sports, news, and entertainment.
On a call with investors following the announcement, Fubo said the combined company is expected to become “cash flow positive immediately,” with more than 6.2 million subscribers in North America and revenue of more than $6 billion.
The agreement will also provide Fubo with $220 million in immediate cash, as well as $145 million in committed financing available in January 2026 to enhance liquidity and ensure continued investments.
“We are thrilled with today’s results,” said David Gandler, co-founder and CEO of Fubo, who will also manage the new business. “Increasing scale means we have the flexibility to pursue diversified growth strategies, opening up a range of opportunities, both domestically and internationally.”
Gandler added that while Fubo will continue to focus on sports and news, it will now be able to offer more consumer options, including access to ESPN+ through revised distribution agreements with both Disney and Fox.
“More importantly, Fubo has the ability to create more slim sports, news and entertainment packages based on consumer needs,” he said, noting that Hulu + Live TV will remain an entertainment-focused cable replacement service.
Overall, Fubo’s management team said the deal will create a “very competitive and exciting environment” and that the company is now “gearing up” for its growth phase.
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