Media giant The Walt Disney Company (Disney) and streaming platform FuboTV Inc. have officially closed their deal to merge the Hulu + Live TV operations with Fubo, creating a combined business in which Disney holds roughly 70 percent and Fubo shareholders about 30 percent.
The newly formed company becomes the second‑largest virtual pay‑TV provider in the U.S., claiming close to six million subscribers in North America, trailing only YouTube TV, which is estimated to serve over ten million paid users and is locked in a carriage fight with Disney.
The arrangement was approved by the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and part of the deal sees Fubo’s advertising sales group moving into Disney’s ad sales organization. The companies say both services will continue to operate “as separate and distinct services,” each offering multiple plan options and price points, while Hulu + Live TV will remain in the Hulu app and bundled with Disney+ and ESPN. The combined entity will deliver access to more than 55,000 live sporting events along with entertainment programming drawn from both brands.
“Today’s announcement brings together two industry-leading brands and a compelling set of resources that uniquely position us to meet the evolving needs of today’s consumer,” said chairman Andy Bird. Fubo CEO David Gandler added, “Together with Disney, we’re creating a more flexible streaming ecosystem that gives consumers greater choice, while driving profitability and sustainable growth.”
With its first full fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, this new streaming powerhouse is set to reshape the live‑TV landscape and challenge the dominance of YouTube TV.
