Fubo has accelerated the expected timeline for closing its sale to Disney, now anticipating the transaction will close in the fourth quarter of this year or the first three months of 2026.
It requires regulatory approval with a review ongoing at the Department of Justice. Fubo stockholders must also approve the deal at a meeting of shareholders, date still to come, the company said in a preliminary proxy filed with the SEC today.
Previously, the close was expected in the first half of 2026.
In January, Disney agreed to combine its Hulu + Live TV with Fubo and become majority owner of the combined company. The agreement was struck in the midst of a legal tussle that saw Fubo challenge a proposed sports streaming joint venture called Venu between Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery as anti-competitive. The partners delayed Venu’s launch under a preliminary injunction and ultimately scrapped it and settled with Fubo after a judge denied their motion to dismiss the case.
Disney and Fubo simultaneously announced their own deal to create an expanded MVPD player with 6.2 million subscribers.
Fubo and Hulu + Live TV will continue to be available to consumers as separate offerings post-closing. Hulu + Live TV, will continue to be streamed in the Hulu app and be offered as part of the bundle with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+. Fubo will continue to operate in the Fubo app.
The agreement gives Fubo the right to launch a new Sports & Broadcast service featuring Disney’s sports and broadcast networks including ABC and ESPN well as ESPN+ if the deal closes or not.
The new Fubo will continue to be run by current management led by CEO David Gandler. A board of directors has yet to be announced. Fubo will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under its current stock symbol FUBO.
Disney will own 70% of the company. The media has had operating control of Hulu but gained full ownership in June when it completed the acquisition of Comcast’s minority stake.
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