NBCUniversal, Fubo Lash Out Amid Carriage Fight

NBCUniversal and Fubo are swatting each amid a carriage battle that saw the NBCU networks go dark on the virtual multi-channel video provider Nov. 21.

It’s the latest carriage fight in the industry and while Fubo is far from one of the biggest distributors it is now owned by Disney in a deal that closed last last month.

“Fubo has chosen to drop NBCUniversal programming despite being offered the same terms agreed to by hundreds of other distributors,” said an NBCUniversal spokesperson in a statement Tuesday. “Unfortunately, this is par for the course for Fubo — they’ve dropped numerous networks in recent years at the expense of their customers, who continue to lose content.”

Fubo insists it’s been engaged in good faith negotiations with NBCUniversal “to renew its long-standing content agreement to distribute their networks to consumers [but] as a result of Fubo not agreeing to NBCU’s demands, which would hurt Fubo consumers, NBCU pulled its networks” after the duo’s latest contract expired November 20.

Until today, the two sides had remained mum on the situation.

Fubo took a dig at NBCU parent’s Comcast planned spinoff of its linear television networks into a separate company called Versant, an operation that’s expected to close early next year.

“Despite them not being worth the cost to Fubo subscribers, Fubo offered to distribute Versant channels for one year. NBCU wants Fubo to sign a multi-year deal — well past the time the Versant channels will be owned by a separate company. NBCU wants Fubo subscribers to subsidize these channels,” Fubo said.

It also claimed NBCU is blocking a Fubo’s so-called skinny sports bundle. “Earlier this year, Fubo launched Fubo Sports, a cost-effective sports-focused service. NBCU wants Fubo to add expensive, non-sports channels, which will drive up the price paid by Fubo subscribers … We hope NBCU reconsiders their stance, or we’ll be forced to move forward without them.”

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