DirecTV claims antitrust concerns remain over launch of streamer Venu Sports despite Fubo-Disney deal

American satellite television provider DirecTV is arguing there are still antitrust concerns around the planned launch of joint-venture streamer Venu Sports, despite the fact Disney and Fubo resolved their legal dispute earlier this week.

David Gandler

In a letter to a federal judge, DirecTV said that Venu, which is a partnership between Disney, Fox and Warner Bros Discovery, would be able to offer sports content that DirecTV and other distributors don’t have access to.

The letter was sent three days after it was announced that Disney has entered an agreement to majority-acquire Fubo. Under the deal, Disney will merge Hulu + Live TV with Fubo.

The merged business will have 6.2 million subscribers combined in North America, with Fubo co-founder David Gandler remaining as CEO. Fubo stock is up more than 300% at US$5.35 per share since the deal was announced.

As part of the deal, Fubo and Disney agreed to settle all legal proceedings, which started last February when Fubo filed an antitrust lawsuit against Disney, Fox and WBD, alleging the joint venture would limit competition and inflate prices for consumers. In August, Fubo was granted an injunction blocking the launch of Venu and a trial date was set for October 2025.

However, with Disney’s acquisition of Fubo and resolution of the litigation, the path is seemingly clear for Venu Sports to launch.

“By this settlement, defendants pay off and seek to subsume the very competitor that raised these antitrust violations to the Court,” said DirecTV in its letter.

Earlier in the week, Dish parent company EchoStar also expressed antitrust concerns over the launch of Venu Sports.