Pay-TV provider Fubo has launched a skinny sports bundle with the goal of delivering an array of programming for sports fans at a reasonable price.
Beginning September 2, Fubo Sports will carry more than 20 broadcast and sports-focused networks with extensive national and local college and pro coverage. The service will start off in select markets and then roll out more widely.
The cost will be $55.99 a month, with a $10 discount for the first month. The price point is well below that of conventional pay packages like YouTube TV, which is $82.99 a month. It is, however, $15 more than a notable recent entrant, a bundle of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer service and Fox One.
Fubo, which was founded 10 years ago as a sports-centric operator, had long sought to scale its leaner bundle heavy on sports but encountered resistance from larger rivals. Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery teamed in 2024 on a joint venture, Venu Sports, which was torpedoed before launching by an antitrust lawsuit filed by Fubo.
The company claimed that the media giants forced it to carry their non-sports networks, bloating its bundle and forcing it to raise prices, effectively neutralizing it as a competitor and clearing a path for Venu. A federal judge agreed, and the case wound up being settled before trial, with Disney agreeing to acquire majority control of Fubo. The acquisition is slated to close next year.
Access to ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer Unlimited plan, which includes ESPN+, is bundled with a Fubo Sports subscription at no extra charge. Linear channels in the package include local broadcast stations owned and operated by ABC, CBS and Fox, plus additional affiliates in select markets. Also included are the ACC Network; Big 10 Network; CBS Sports Network; ESPN; ESPN2; ESPNews; ESPNU; Fox News; FS1; FS2; Fubo Sports Network; ION; NFL Network, SEC Network and Tennis Channel. Some network 4K content also available, along with VOD, Unlimited DVR and Family Share.
A key programmer notably absent from the lineup at launch is NBCUniversal, which controls a significant amount of sports rights, including the NFL, the NBA, the Premier League and the Olympics. WBD is also MIA, in keeping with an estrangement from Fubo that dates back several years. The launch announcement included a mention of other networks potentially being added down the line.
Creating a truly comprehensive sports bundle has proven to be a Herculean task. NBCU was a holdout initially when DirecTV launched a sports-centric bundle earlier this year, as was CBS parent Paramount, though both later came into the fold. DirecTV’s pitched battle with Disney in 2024 over a carriage renewal highlighted tensions between programmers and distributors over the notion of slimmer, targeted bundles as alternatives to the all-encompassing mega-packages that have prevailed for decades. In an era of cord-cutting and direct-to-consumer streaming, distributors have argued that being forced to preserve full-price “everything” bundles will only make it harder to attract and retain customers.
“At Fubo, we have always believed a streaming service must provide consumers with multiple, flexible and more affordable content options – and that consumers should be able to subscribe to the content they choose,” Fubo co-founder and CEO David Gandler said in a statement. “The launch of Fubo Sports will add another content tier to our broad portfolio, super-serving passionate sports fans. With our signature pay-TV streaming service alongside standalone sports offerings, pay-per-view live events and now Fubo Sports, we will continue to offer consumers multiple competitively-priced content options within the Fubo ecosystem, free of friction.”
