The Venu Sports Streaming Bundle Will Be Benched for a Bit

Huddle up, y’all. There’s been a hiccup in the launch of Venu, the planned sports streaming bundle from three heavy hitters in the streaming landscape. Per the Associated Press and CNN, a judge has granted FuboTV’s request for a preliminary injunction against the joint venture by Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the Walt Disney Company (you might see reports swap ESPN into that third slot; ESPN is majority-owned by Disney). Fubo filed a lawsuit two weeks after Venu was announced back in February, arguing that the bundle would violate antitrust laws and cause consumers to “face irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction.” On Friday, a New York district judge ruled that Fubo would likely succeed in proving those claims in trial. Fox, Disney, and Warner Bros. Discovery said they plan to appeal, claiming that “Venu Sports is a pro-competitive option that aims to enhance consumer choice by reaching a segment of viewers who currently are not served by existing subscription options.” Venu was supposed to debut this fall with a locked-in “launch price” of $42.99 per month for one year. As we previously reported, it was set to offer subscribers coverage of a dizzying amount of sports through access to all ESPN channels, ESPN+, ABC, FOX, TNT, TBS, and TruTV … plus programs like 30 for 30 via the ESPN library. The AP reports that Venu’s launch will likely be delayed until at least 2025.

According to Courthouse News, Fubo said in its filing that it has long wanted to launch a sports-only streaming service, but faced difficulties because networks allegedly charged unfairly high licensing costs and forced bundles with other entertainment channels. “Today’s ruling is a victory not only for Fubo but also for consumers,” David Gandler, Fubo co-founder and chief executive, said in a statement. “This decision will help ensure that consumers have access to a more competitive marketplace with multiple sports streaming options.” Keep in mind, though, that a preliminary injunction is basically just a temporary timeout. A trial date for the antitrust lawsuit has not been set yet. So you’ve got some time to decide, sports fans — are you Team Fubo or not?