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Disney to take 70 per cent stake in Fubo via Hulu + Live TV merger
MUMBAI: In the enchanted realm of acquisitions, The Walt Disney Company has long been the master storyteller, weaving tales of strategic mergers and blockbuster stakes. With 20 acquisitions averaging $8.71 billion each, Disney has shaped industries and redefined entertainment. Its canvas stretches across four countries, with key brushstrokes in India and the United States. But as the curtain rises on 2025, the entertainment giant pens its boldest chapter yet.
Disney is acquiring a 70 per cent majority stake in Fubo, the sports-centric streaming platform, and merging it with Hulu + Live TV. This landmark merger will create a new public entity under the Fubo name, poised to challenge the virtual MVPD throne. The deal not only fortifies Disney’s streaming empire but also redraws the map for how audiences consume live sports and entertainment.
Stay tuned—Disney’s magical kingdom of streaming just got a lot more competitive
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| From L to R: Disney executive vice president and head of corporate development Justin Warbrooke; Fubo co-founder & CEO David Gandler |
The combined platform will bring together 6.2 million subscribers across North America, offering a robust catalogue of live sports, entertainment, and broadcast content. The current Fubo leadership team, led by co-founder and CEO David Gandler, will manage the merged operations.
Speaking on the merger, Gandler said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Disney to create a consumer-first streaming company that combines the strengths of the Fubo and Hulu + Live TV brands. This combination enables us to deliver on our promise to provide consumers with greater choice and flexibility. Additionally, this agreement allows us to scale effectively, strengthens Fubo’s balance sheet, and positions us for positive cash flow.”
Disney executive vice president and head of corporate development Justin Warbrooke added, “This combination will allow both Hulu + Live TV and Fubo to enhance and expand their virtual MVPD offerings, providing consumers with even more choice and flexibility. We have confidence in the Fubo management team and their ability to grow the business, delivering high-quality offerings that serve subscribers with the content they want and offering great value.”
The deal also resolves the litigation between Fubo and Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros Discovery (WBD). As part of the settlement, the three media firms will pay $220 million to Fubo. Disney will also extend a $145 million term loan to Fubo in 2026.
The agreement includes a new carriage deal allowing Fubo to create a “sports and broadcast” service featuring Disney-owned properties such as ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, and ESPN+.
Upon regulatory and shareholder approvals, the merged entity will be governed by a board of directors, with Disney appointing the majority. Gandler will retain his role as CEO and serve on the board.
The companies aim to leverage synergies through flexible programming, innovative offerings, and enhanced marketing strategies, setting a new benchmark in the streaming industry.
With this merger, Disney and Fubo seek to deliver value to subscribers by combining Hulu + Live TV’s expansive content portfolio with Fubo’s sports-centric programming. This merger also strengthens Fubo’s balance sheet and positions the platform for sustainable cash flow and operational growth.
The first ball in this high-stakes streaming game is expected to roll once all approvals are finalised, opening a new chapter in virtual MVPD offerings.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
