Overview
- After the Oct. 30 deadline passed without a renewal, YouTube TV removed more than 20 Disney-owned networks, including ABC and ESPN, and said extended outages will prompt a $20 monthly credit for subscribers.
- Disney accused Google’s YouTube TV of refusing to pay fair rates, while YouTube TV said Disney demanded costly terms that would raise prices and favor Disney’s own live-TV products.
- Disney closed its majority acquisition of Fubo and combined operations with Hulu + Live TV, creating a nearly 6 million–subscriber virtual pay-TV provider that trails only YouTube TV in size.
- Disney holds about 70% of the merged business, Fubo co-founder and CEO David Gandler will run the combined operations, and former Disney executive Andy Bird was appointed independent chairman.
- The deal received DOJ antitrust clearance and provides access to a $145 million term loan, with the companies forecasting savings from more flexible channel packaging and advertising optimization.