Fubo, which has not carried nearly a dozen networks from the Warner side of Warner Bros. Discovery since 2020, added a batch of Discovery channels to the blacked-out list on Tuesday.
The internet-delivered pay-TV operator, which has nearly 1.7 million subscribers, reached an impasse with the former WarnerMedia networks in 2020 and networks like TNT and CNN have since been dark on the service. Saying it had not received a response from WBD in more recent efforts to negotiate, Fubo unplugged 19 Discovery networks, including HGTV and the Food Network.
WarnerMedia and Discovery Communications closed a $43 billion merger in April 2022, creating Warner Bros. Discovery.
In a statement, Fubo decried the “massive market power” of WBD. The phrase may ring familiar, as the internet pay-TV operator is in litigation against the company as well as Disney and Fox over the three networks’ joint venture for a sports streaming service.
“Fubo offered Warner Brothers Discovery market rates for its content and, despite Fubo’s efforts to negotiate in good faith, Warner Brothers Discovery did not provide any counteroffer, and insisted on continuing to offer us above-market rates for its content,” Fubo’s statement said. “Fubo views Warner Brothers Discovery’s refusal to engage in good faith negotiations as another example of its abuse of massive market power that ultimately limits consumer choice.”
WBD pushed back on Fubo’s claims in a statement provided to Deadline.
“Our priority is to deliver the best content, at the best value, to our fans wherever they want to watch it,” the statement said. “We have been and remain ready and willing to work diligently with Fubo to reach a fair market agreement. We proposed an extension of our current agreement, with no changes or price increases, that would allow Fubo to continue carrying these networks, and it is unfortunate that Fubo has decided to alienate their own customers in this way.”
