Fubo lets Warner Bros. Discovery Networks fall

Internet TV provider Fubo canceled all Warner Bros. Discovery networks from its lineup, claiming the media company was looking for “above-market rates” and refusing to license Turner Sports networks separately.

In a statement Tuesday, Fubo said it has sought to renew its Discovery content deal with WBD for networks including Discovery, HGTV, Food Network and TLC. The streamer also attempted to license Warner Bros.’ Turner Sports networks. Discovery, TNT, TBS and truTV. But Fubo said WBD would not negotiate “in good faith” and that if Warner Bros. Discovery networks were pulled from Fubo starting April 30 at 5:00 PM ET.

“Fubo offered Warner Brothers Discovery market rates for its content and, despite Fubo’s efforts to negotiate in good faith, Warner Brothers Discovery made no counteroffer and insisted on continuing to offer us above market rates for its content,” the streaming provider said. said in a statement. “Fubo views Warner Brothers Discovery’s refusal to negotiate in good faith as another example of an abuse of the enormous market power that ultimately limits consumer choice.”

“It is clear to us that the actions of Warner Bros. Discovery will hurt consumers’ wallets and limit their choices,” Fubo said.

In a statement, Warner Bros. said. Discovery: “Our priority is to deliver the best content, at the best price, to our fans wherever they want to watch it. We are and remain willing to work diligently with Fubo to reach a fair market agreement. We have proposed an extension of our current agreement, without changes or price increases, which would allow Fubo to continue offering these networks, and it is unfortunate that Fubo has decided to alienate its own customers in this way.”

On July 1, 2020, Fubo dropped the old WarnerMedia network suite – TNT, TBS, CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, HLN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, truTV and Boomerang – after the companies were unable to do so until an extension agreement.

According to Fubo, Warner Bros. Discovery “also denied our customers the choice to subscribe to their Turner sports content separately from Discovery content through a more affordable skinny sports bundle. Yet Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it plans to make this must-see content available in its upcoming sports streaming joint venture with the Walt Disney Company and Fox Corp.

In February, Fubo filed a federal lawsuit against Disney, Fox and WBD over the trio’s plans to launch a sports streaming bundle, claiming it violated antitrust laws.

“Warner Bros.’s Refusal Discovery to offer Fubo standard market terms and packaging flexibility are more examples of the unfair and anti-competitive practices that Fubo and other vertically integrated media companies have imposed on Fubo for years,” Fubo’s statement continued. “These practices, outlined in our recent antitrust lawsuit filed against the joint venture companies, aim to monopolize the market, stifle any form of competition, create higher prices for subscribers, and defraud consumers of well-deserved choice. Fubo is taking action against these unfair market conditions to prevent these additional costs from being passed on to consumers.”