FuboTV Requests Congressional Hearing on Disney-Fox-Warner Sports Platform

FuboTV and other smaller streaming services are gearing up for a battle against major players like Fox, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery in the sports streaming arena. In a bold move, FuboTV, along with DirecTV, Dish Network, and Newsmax, have called for Congressional hearings to address concerns about the future of pay TV competition and its impact on consumers.

The coalition led by FuboTV expressed serious competition concerns in a letter unveiled on Thursday, highlighting the dominance that the new joint venture between Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery could have in the market. This sports platform, announced in February 2024, is set to control 80% of national live sports broadcasts, raising alarms among smaller streamers about access to live sports content.

The joint venture promises channels from ESPN, Fox, TBS, and TNT in a skinny multichannel offering, but it will lack channels from NBCUniversal and Paramount, among others. The coalition emphasized the importance of competition and choice in accessing live sports and entertainment, urging Congress to intervene to ensure a level playing field for all players in the industry.

The letter signed by FuboTV Inc., DirecTV, DISH Network, and other organizations called for immediate oversight by Congress to prevent the new joint venture from dominating the market and driving out competition. With the future of pay TV at stake, the coalition is pushing for hearings to address the growing concerns and protect consumer interests in the evolving streaming landscape.