A federal judge has ruled that the jury trial for Fubo’s antitrust lawsuit against Disney, Fox Corp., and Warner Bros. Discovery will commence on October 6, 2025. The decision comes after Fubo, a pay-TV provider, accused the media giants of forming an anti-competitive streaming joint venture called Venu Sports.
U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Garnett issued an order establishing the trial date and key deadlines for motions and discovery, emphasizing that the start date should be considered “firm.”
Fubo, with nearly 1.5 million subscribers, filed the suit in February following the announcement of Venu Sports. The service, offering linear feeds of 15 sports-focused networks at a significantly lower price than competitors like Fubo, was set to launch but was halted by a preliminary injunction granted by Judge Garnett last month.
The trial date aligns more closely with Fubo’s preferred timeline than the defendants’, who had suggested February 2026. However, Judge Garnett noted that two factors could potentially expedite the trial: if the Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturns her preliminary injunction, allowing Venu to launch, or if she grants motions to dismiss any counts in Fubo’s complaint.
In its lawsuit, Fubo alleges that the three media companies engaged in anti-competitive practices during distribution negotiations, forcing Fubo to carry less popular channels to access more desirable ones. Fubo also claims that these practices have driven up prices for consumers and hindered its ability to launch a sports-only service.
The trial is expected to shed light on the complex dynamics of the pay-TV industry and the challenges faced by smaller players like Fubo in competing with media giants. This comes as Fubo promises to release never-before-seen documents to the public. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of sports streaming and the broader television landscape.
Credit: Deadline