If you’ve noticed that your favorite show has recently disappeared from Fuboit’s probably because an entire block of programming has just disappeared from the site’s channel schedule.
THE live TV streaming service is engaged in a carriage dispute with NBCUniversal, a media company whose subsidiaries include NBC News, Universal Studios, Peacock, Telemundo and Illumination, among other brands.
On November 21, NBCUniversal removed all of its networks from Fubo. This is a particularly important issue for sports observers in the streaming servicesince the Fubo Sports Subscription — which debuted earlier this year — is contingent on the licensing deal with NBCUniversal. However, viewers can still access sports content on networks like ESPN, CBS and ABC.
Fubo released a statement on Tuesday, alleging that the media giant engaged in “discriminatory tactics” that harm the streamer’s subscribers.
“NBCU is discriminating against Fubo and our subscribers,” the statement said. “They allowed YouTube TV and Amazon Prime to integrate Peacock directly into their channel store, but refused to grant the same rights to Fubo.”
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Fubo claims that NBCUniversal is trying to force a multi-year deal for certain channel packages under the media giant’s new spinoff company, Versant, and is trying to price out the Fubo Sports subscription by adding “expensive, non-sports channels” into the deal, thereby increasing the cost.
According to the NBCUniversal website, Versant’s brands include CNBC, E!, MS Now, SyFy and USA, among other channels.
NBCUniversal did not respond to a request for comment.
Fubo says it’s willing to move forward without NBCUniversal content if a deal can’t be reached.
“Fubo is committed to providing our subscribers with a premium live TV streaming experience at a competitive price with the content they love,” the statement concludes. “This includes multiple content options, including a sports-focused service, accessible directly from the Fubo app.”
Fubo recently became a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, following its merger with Hulu’s live TV platform in October. It is unclear whether this merger affected the content deal negotiations with NBCUniversal. Fubo did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
