Fubo Sues Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery Over Their Planned Sports Streaming Platform, Alleging It Violates Antitrust Law

variety.com:

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Fubo, which bills itself as a sports-first TV subscription streaming service, is suing Disney, Fox Corp.

and Warner Bros. Discovery over the trio’s plans to launch a sports streaming bundle. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, New York-based Fubo alleges that Disney, Fox, WBD and their affiliates have “engaged in a years-long campaign to block Fubo’s innovative sports-first streaming business resulting in significant harm to both Fubo and consumers.” The complaint alleges that the forthcoming launch of their sports-streaming joint venture, pegged for the fall of 2024, “steals Fubo’s playbook” and violates antitrust law.

In its complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Fubo seeks to block the joint venture or alternatively require restrictions on the defendants in order for the JV to proceed, such as “economic parity of licensing terms.” Fubo also said it seeks “substantial” monetary damages but its complaint did not specify an amount. “Fubo believes it has incurred billions of dollars in damages as a result of the Defendants’ actions,” the streaming company said.

Reps for Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment. Fox Corp. did not respond to requests for comment. On Feb. 6, Disney/ESPN, Fox Corp.