Fubo has dropped Warner Bros. Discovery networks from its lineup after the two companies failed to renew their content agreement. The networks, which include Discovery, HGTV, Food Network and TLC, officially left Fubo as of April 30, 2024 at 5pm ET.
In its announcement, Fubo says it not only tried to renew the existing content agreement with Warner Bro. Discovery, but also attempted to obtain rights for the Turner sports networks TNT, TBS and truTV. According to Fubo, Warner Bros. Discovery “insisted on continuing to offer us above-market rates for its content.”
Here’s the full list of Warner Bros. Discovery networks removed today:
- Animal Planet
- American Heroes Channel
- Cooking Channel
- Destination America
- Discovery Channel
- Discovery en Español
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Familia
- Discovery Life
- Food Network
- HGTV
- Hogar
- Investigation Discovery (ID)
- Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)
- Magnolia Network
- Motor Trend
- Science Channel
- TLC
- Travel Channel
As this is the full list, the exact channels any individual subscriber has lost will depend on their live TV package.
The announcement also took the opportunity to use this dispute, and subsequent removal of channels, as “another example of its [Warner Bros. Discovery] abuse of massive market power that ultimately limits consumer choice.” This relates to the ongoing issue between Fubo and Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery over their upcoming sports streaming service.
Fubo has even filed suit against the three companies, accusing them of working together as a ‘sports cartel.’ Fubo previously accused the companies of intentionally limiting what it can offer (and at what price) with its previous carriage deals, and now appears to be suggesting that this latest carriage dispute is another example of that same behavior.
“Warner Bros. Discovery has also denied our customers the choice of subscribing to their Turner sports content separately from Discovery content through a more affordable skinny sports bundle. Yet Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that it plans to make this must-have content available in its forthcoming sports streaming joint venture with The Walt Disney Company and FOX Corp,” Fubo said.
As it seems unlikely that this carriage dispute will be resolved in the near future, Fubo subscribers probably shouldn’t expect the dropped channels to return to their lineup anytime soon.
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