Fubo and Hulu Live TV have officially completed their merger. After initial speculation earlier this year, the deal is now finalized. The two companies announced on Wednesday that they have concluded their agreement to combine Fubo’s sports-focused platform with Hulu’s live television service. This follows approval from Fubo shareholders last month.
This merger is a significant shift in the streaming industry. The new combined entity becomes the sixth-largest pay TV provider in the United States, with close to six million subscribers. This positions the new company as a direct competitor to YouTube TV, which currently leads the market with approximately ten million subscribers.
Although the deal reduces the number of independent streaming services and affects market competition, sources report that Disney and Fubo have received clearance from the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division to move forward.
A major feature of the merger is the integration of Fubo’s sports content with Hulu’s extensive entertainment library. The unified platform will offer an impressive lineup of more than fifty-five thousand live sporting events annually, which is a substantial draw for sports enthusiasts. Furthermore, Fubo subscribers will gain access to a large collection of popular shows and movies that were not previously available to them.
Another advantage for customers is the introduction of more flexible plan options. The companies intend to offer several choices, including smaller skinny bundles and more comprehensive robust offerings, all at what they describe as competitive prices.
Despite the merger, users can still access both platforms separately. Fubo will maintain its dedicated application, and Hulu Live TV will remain a part of the Hulu platform, included in Disney’s bundle with Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN Unlimited.
Disney will hold an approximate seventy percent interest in the newly combined company. Existing Fubo shareholders will retain about a thirty percent stake. Additionally, the combined company will have access to a term loan of one hundred forty-five million dollars that Disney has agreed to provide to Fubo in 2026 as part of the transaction.
This announcement follows other notable industry developments, including reports of Paramount’s interest in acquiring Warner Bros. Indications are that Paramount CEO David Ellison intends to discontinue HBO Max as a standalone streaming service and merge its content and user base into Paramount+.