Observed Signal · Feb 25, 2026 · Carriage Dispute / Blackout · Source: State of Streaming · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Fubo Blacks Out NBCUniversal Channels Ahead of Thanksgiving
Fubo dropped all NBCUniversal channels following a carriage dispute over distribution fees, leaving roughly 1.6 million subscribers without key sports and holiday programming. Fubo accused NBCUniversal of demanding "egregiously" high fees; NBCUniversal said it offered Fubo the same terms it gave other distributors and characterized channel drops as normal negotiating outcomes. The blackout jeopardizes access to events including Sunday Night Football, the Macy’s Day Parade and the primetime NFL Thanksgiving game. Disney’s acquisition of Fubo (approved in October 2025) complicates the situation because Disney now owns a direct competitor to Hulu + Live TV, which is not affected. Fubo has promised a $15 credit for prolonged outages and is expanding free ad-supported channels to fill the programming gaps, but it provided no timetable for a resolution.
The blackout removes valuable live/sports inventory from an OTT distributor during high-viewership holiday programming, affecting advertisers, viewers and distribution negotiations; Disney’s ownership of Fubo adds strategic significance.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Fubo dropped all NBCUniversal channels in a carriage dispute over fees.
- Approximately 1.6 million Fubo subscribers were affected by the blackout.
- Blackout removed access to live events including Sunday Night Football, the Macy’s Day Parade, and the Thanksgiving primetime NFL game.
- Disney’s acquisition of Fubo was approved in October 2025; Hulu + Live TV was not affected by the blackout.
- Fubo offered a $15 credit for prolonged outages and is expanding free ad-supported channels to replace NBCUniversal programming temporarily.
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Fubo Lowers Prices Amid NBCU Blackout
Fubo has permanently lowered prices on its main live-TV streaming tiers while continuing a blackout of NBCUniversal channels. The streamer confirmed its Pro and Elite plans now run about $74 and $84 per month (roughly an $11 reduction), and current subscribers will receive a one-time $15 credit on their December statement before the lower rates take effect in January. The blackout stems from a carriage dispute: Fubo is seeking rights to integrate NBCUniversal’s Peacock service into its app, while NBCUniversal has granted Peacock integration rights to Amazon Prime Video and offered Fubo more restrictive terms. NBCUniversal plans to spin off many affected channels into a new company called Versant. Fubo recently completed a merger with Hulu + Live TV and has a history of aggressive carriage negotiations.
Fubo Restores NBCUniversal Channels; Some Delayed
Fubo announced on June 10, 2026 that it has reached an agreement with NBCUniversal to restore several NBCU linear channels on its streaming service. Telemundo and Universo returned to Fubo immediately, timed for Spanish-language coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (Telemundo will carry all 104 matches from June 11 to July 19). NBCUniversal’s English-language networks — including the relaunched NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), regional sports networks (Bay Area, Boston, California, Philadelphia), Bravo, and new free channels — will be re-added to Fubo in the coming weeks. The channels were previously dropped in November 2025 after negotiations stalled. Fubo outlined which channels will be available on which subscription plans and quoted Todd Mathers, Fubo’s EVP of content strategy and acquisition, about the agreement.
NBC Returns to Fubo Across All Markets
Fubo has confirmed that NBC-owned channels are back in all markets, marking the end of a nearly 10-month blackout that began in November 2025 when Fubo and NBC failed to reach a carriage agreement. The channels were dropped from Fubo, including local NBC affiliates, Telemundo, NBC Sports, Bravo, CNBC, E!, Golf Channel, MSNBC, and USA. In June 2026, the companies reached an agreement, with Telemundo and Universo added immediately in time for World Cup coverage, while English-language networks were rolled out subsequently. Now, Fubo claims 100% coverage of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC markets nationwide, just in time for football season. However, some channels like E! and USA are still missing from the lineup.
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