Elizabeth Warren requests DOJ investigation of Disney-Fubo deal

Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about Disney’s surprise move to acquire the streaming service Fubo, citing antitrust issues. Warren sent a letter to the DOJ on Feb. 19 asking them to investigate the deal that would see Disney merge its Hulu + Live TV with Fubo. If the deal goes through, Disney would own 70% of the new holding company, with Fubo’s CEO, David Gandler, remaining in charge.

The merger would bring an end to Fubo’s legal battle against Disney, Fox Corp, and Warner Bros. Discovery over the scrapped plan to create a rival streaming service called Venu. Fubo had filed a $1 billion lawsuit claiming that the companies were trying to dominate sports content to make excessive profits.

Warren’s letter points out that Disney’s move to acquire Fubo comes after facing obstacles in creating their own sports service, Venu. It’s noteworthy that Disney and Fubo were on opposite sides of a legal dispute just a month before the acquisition deal was announced.

Warren is calling for the DOJ to look into the deal due to concerns over Disney’s previous anticompetitive history. The move highlights ongoing challenges in the streaming entertainment industry and raises questions about fair competition.