Fubo Slashes Prices, Digs In for NBCU Blackout War

Fubo is cutting prices on its main streaming plans as its blackout of NBCUniversal channels continues. The sports-centric service is betting customers will prefer a lower bill over access to networks like NBC, USA, and Bravo.

• Putting its money where its mouth is: Fubo confirmed on its support site that its Pro and Elite plans are now about $74 and $84 per month, respectively—an $11 price drop. Current subscribers will see a one-time $15 credit on their December statement before the new, lower rates take effect in January.

• The Peacock problem: While carriage fee hikes are part of the conflict, the core issue is Fubo's demand to integrate NBCU's Peacock streaming service into its app. NBCU has granted these rights to Amazon Prime Video but has offered Fubo more restrictive terms similar to its deal with YouTube TV.

• Not their first rodeo: This isn't Fubo's first blackout battle. The company is known for playing hardball in carriage negotiations, having previously dropped channels from major players like Warner Bros. Discovery.

By permanently lowering its prices instead of issuing temporary credits, Fubo is making a high-stakes wager that it can thrive as a leaner, more affordable service, even without one of media's largest channel portfolios. The dispute is complicated by NBCU's plan to spin off many of the affected channels into a new company called Versant. Meanwhile, Fubo is also in consolidation mode, having recently closed its own merger with Hulu + Live TV.