Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. new streaming service blocked from being launched by federal judge after FuboTV complaint

A FEDERAL judge has blocked the planned launch of Venu Sports, the streaming platform of Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The decision came after streaming TV service FuboTV filed an antitrust lawsuit against the unprecedented project of the three media giants.

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Venu Sports

And Judge Margaret Garnett agreed that the venture could be in violation of antitrust laws, explaining the decision in a 69-page document, per Front Office Sports .

“[I]t appears to the Court that Fubo is likely to succeed on its claims that by entering into the JV, the JV Defendants will substantially lessen competition and restrain trade in the relevant market in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act,” she wrote.

“The JV Defendants and their officers, directors, employees, agents, and all other persons acting on their behalf are hereby enjoined and restrained from launching the JV pending final adjudication of the merits of this case or further order of the Court.”

In a statement, Fox, Disney , and WBD vowed to get the decision overturned.

“We respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling and are appealing it,” the statement read.

“We believe that Fubo’s arguments are wrong on the facts and the law, and that Fubo has failed to prove it is legally entitled to a preliminary injunction.

“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 launch on August 23.

Earlier this month, Fox, Disney, and WBD revealed the subscription fee to be $42.99 a month.

Subscribers would get access to live NFL , NBA , MLB , NHL , college sports, and FIFA World Cup action.

The service was set to offer 14 sports channels.

Those were ESPN, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, and truTV.

But the project’s future is now uncertain.

“A preliminary injunction would terminate the joint venture,” WBD’s attorney Andrew Levander warned before the ruling was made, according to The Streamable .

NFL important dates

August 1 - Hall of Fame Game - Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears

August 8 – Pre-season begins

August 27 – Deadline for 53-man rosters

September 1 – Final day of pre-season

September 5 – Season opener – Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs

November 5 – Trade deadline

January 5 – Week 18 of regular-season

January 11 – Playoffs begin

February 9 – Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana

Meanwhile, Fubo warned it would be headed for doom if Venu Sports launched as planned.

“Fubo will face insolvency absent an injunction,” the company’s brief read.

“But there is literally no harm to multibillion media giants if [Venu] is delayed for some period of time while the merits of the case can be fully resolved.”

Venu is run as its own company with Fox, Disney, and WBD each owning a third of the total shares.

Disney and WBD also recently revealed it would offer a separate streaming bundle, featuring Disney+, Hulu, and Max.

The subscription fee is $16.99 per month with commercials and $29.99 without commercials.