According to Engadget, Fubo has accused NBCUniversal of making “egregious” demands in their ongoing carriage dispute that has left NBC channels dark on the streaming service since this past Friday. The conflict centers around NBCU’s planned spinoff of some cable networks into a new company called Versant on January 1, 2026. Fubo claims NBCU wants them to sign a multi-year deal for these channels well beyond when they’ll be owned by a separate company, effectively forcing Fubo subscribers to “subsidize” networks they say aren’t worth the cost. The streaming service also alleges discrimination, noting that NBCU allows YouTube TV and Amazon Prime Video to integrate Peacock while denying Fubo the same rights. NBCUniversal fired back, saying Fubo has dropped numerous networks over the past five years including Discovery and AMC, and that they were offered the same terms accepted by hundreds of other distributors.
Streaming wars escalate
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just another carriage dispute. We’re seeing the streaming wars evolve into something much more complex. Traditional cable companies used to have these fights, but now it’s streaming services battling media conglomerates over the exact same issues. The Versant spinoff situation is particularly interesting – Fubo is basically being asked to commit to channels that will soon belong to a completely different company. That’s like being forced to buy a car from a dealership that’s about to change ownership, with no guarantee about future service or quality.
Consumer impact
And who gets caught in the middle? The subscribers, of course. Fubo customers trying to watch NBC content are seeing that “we’re working to bring this channel back” message while both companies point fingers. This happens way too often in these disputes – the people actually paying for the service become bargaining chips. Remember when Fubo dropped Discovery networks? Or AMC? Subscribers keep losing content they thought they were paying for. But is Fubo really the victim here, or are they just playing hardball like everyone else in this brutal industry?
Bigger picture
Look, what’s really happening here is a power struggle over the future of television distribution. Media companies like NBCUniversal want to protect their traditional revenue streams while also pushing their own streaming services like Peacock. They’re playing both sides, and distributors like Fubo are getting squeezed. The discrimination allegation is telling – if YouTube TV and Amazon really are getting better Peacock integration deals, that suggests the big players are getting preferential treatment. That could have serious antitrust implications if proven true. Basically, we’re watching the entire television ecosystem reconfigure itself in real time, and it’s getting messy.
