Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

"Streaming service FuboTV has filed an antitrust lawsuit against ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery and Hulu, which are planning to launch a sports-streaming venture in the fall.

"Each of these companies has consistently engaged in anticompetitive practices that aim to monopolize the market, stifle any form of competition, create higher pricing for subscribers and cheat consumers from deserved choice, David Gandler, Co-founder and CEO of FuboTV, said in a statement. 'Simply put, this sports cartel blocked our playbook for many years and now they are effectively stealing it for themselves.'

"FuboTV says in its filing that it has tried for years to offer a sports-only streaming service but has been prevented from doing so because of ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery has imposed bundling requirements on FuboTV which it says forces Fubo to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to license and broadcast content that its customers do not want or need.

“Faced with the threat of disruptive competition from Fubo and other upstarts, Defendants have responded by locking arms (and locking others out) to steal Fubo’s core business idea — a sports-centric package of channels — while blocking Fubo from offering that same package, the company said in its court filing."

Snips from a longer article here.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

As American as apple pie...

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

More evidence of what we’ve become. Follow the money.

BebuLamar

I wish they take the cost of covering sport events out of my streaming/cable fee as I never watch any sports.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

So, are all the companies mentioned starting a sports streaming service in conjunction with one another? Is that what the anti-trust aspect of the suit is about?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

True dat.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Yep.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Conversely, I mainly just watch sports, with an occasional zoo or vet show thrown in. Interesting to learn about how this business is evolving.

Twice during my on and off time with Charter/Spectrum cable tv, we temporarily lost access to Fox because of contract renegotiations.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

That was my first understanding. I only skimmed the article (which is linked in my opening).

Cubanphoto

You are right! And I love Fubo. I watch a lot of international futbol (soccer) and FUBO is being squeezed out. This case becomes about who has the deeper pockets to drive court costs. We can, probably, predict the winner.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

And the winner is...not us

Boris77

Put all Sports Leagues on One service and keep it off my machinery.
Broadcast freely the non-monetary events like the Olympics.
I realize everything is to make money, but it could be sorted out and divided up.
Finished results and short clips are News.
I just avoid it.
boris

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

You've reminded me of when networks signed off at midnight