The pay TV distributors raised a red flag to a U.S. district judge over a bid to dismiss an earlier injunction against the sports streamer after a surprise merger of Disney’s Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

Disney will merge its Hulu + Live TV virtual MVPD with competitor Fubo, expanding its sports-focused distribution while settling a suit over skinny bundle Venu.

Fubo and the Disney-owned Hulu Plus Live TV services will be merging their live TV streaming operations, both companies announced on Monday. The Walt Disney Co. will become the majority stakeholder of the combined business, with the joint service working under Fubo's brand name.

The launch of sports streamer Venu, "and potentially new packages from Fubo, appears to be an important strategic lever to cast a wider net and catch all potential subscribers," says one Disney analyst.

Walt Disney Co said on Monday it would merge its Hulu + Live TV business with smaller rival FuboTV , removing a significant hurdle to the launch of its sports streaming venture with Fox Corp and Warner Bros Discovery .

In a surprising deal announced on Monday, Disney is set to combine its Hulu Live TV business with Fubo, the live TV streaming service known for its extensive sports coverage. Under the terms of the deal, Disney will own about 70% of Fubo, which will continue to be available to viewers as a separate offering.

Disney announced a deal with pay-TV provider Fubo to combine Hulu + Live TV with Fubo's operations in a joint venture, ending Fubo's Venu lawsuit.

Disney and FuboTV just kicked off the 2025 media biz M&A sweepstakes with the merger of Fubo TV and Hulu + Live TV. What does the deal mean?

Walt Disney and FuboTV shook up the streaming landscape on Monday—and their potential merger could be a sign of what’s to come for the media industry in 2025. The two companies said they would form a new platform by combining Disney’s Hulu + Live TV with sports-focused Fubo.