Disney’s Hulu Live + TV and Fubo will combine

Disney and FuboTV announced a planned merger of Hulu Live + TV and Fubo on Monday.

The two companies will form a combined virtual multichannel video programming distribution (MVPD) company that will “operate under the publicly traded company name Fubo,” the companies said.

Disney will own a 70% stake in Fubo.

This combination will “facilitate an expanded choice of programming packages and meet a variety of consumer preferences at attractive prices,” according to Disney and Fubo.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

It will be led by David Gandler, CEO of Fubo, and his management team.

He described the planned merger of Fubo and Hulu Live + TV as a “win for consumers, our shareholders and the entire streaming industry.”

Disney and Fubo said the latter would establish a “new Sports & Broadcast service” that would carry ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS and ESPN+ through a distribution agreement between the two.

vMVPD will “negotiate distribution agreements with content providers for the Hulu + Live TV and Fubo services independent of Disney,” according to the companies.

Teleprinter	Security	Last	Change	Change %
SAY	THE WALT DISNEY Company.	111.16	+0.34	+0.31%
FUBO	FUBOTV	4.14	+2.70	+187.50%

Once the deal closes, consumers will still have the option to get Fubo and Hulu + Live TV as “separate offerings,” they also said.

Fubo has been available since 2015.

DISNEY NEXT PRESIDENT AND NEW CEO TO BE ANNOUNCED “EARLY 2026”

Meanwhile, Hulu first introduced Hulu + Live TV in 2017. Disney includes the service in bundles with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.

Fubo and Hulu + Live TV together have more than 6.2 million North American subscribers, according to Disney and Fubo.

At the same time the two companies announced the planned merger of Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, they also said a settlement had been reached for the lawsuit Fubo filed last year against ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Common streaming platform Discovery’s Venu Sports.

The combination of Fubo and Hulu + Live TV will be “subject to regulatory approvals, Fubo shareholder approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions,” Disney and Fubo said.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS

The new The vMVPD company “is expected to be well capitalized and cash flow positive immediately upon closing of the transaction,” they said.

Fubo shares jumped Monday on the news.