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Supply Side

Fubo, NBCU Locked in Standoff as Super Bowl Blackout Looms

By SOS. News Desk | Jan 27, 2026

A bitter carriage dispute between Fubo and NBCUniversal has blacked out over 40 channels for the streamer's subscribers, who now risk missing the Super Bowl. The standoff began on November 21, 2025, after the two companies failed to reach a new agreement.

  • Where credit is due: Fubo claims NBCU demanded "egregiously" high prices and is unfairly blocking the integration of the Peacock app. As a gesture to its 1.6 million subscribers, Fubo is offering a $15 credit and has lowered the monthly price on some of its plans.

  • Par for the course: NBCUniversal is leaning on a well-worn playbook, refuting Fubo's claims by stating it offered the streamer the "same terms agreed to by hundreds of other distributors." In a statement, NBCU pointed to Fubo's history of taking other programmers dark, calling the move "par for the course for Fubo."

  • A mouse in the house: Disney's recent acquisition of Fubo adds another layer to the corporate standoff, putting NBCUniversal's chief rival in control of the negotiations. The deal complicates a dispute that threatens to keep subscribers from watching major events like Super Bowl LX and Sunday Night Football.

While the corporate giants trade accusations, subscribers are left without access to major sports and entertainment programming, highlighting the consumer cost of the streaming wars. The conflict is unfolding in the shadow of other major streaming shakeups, including the recently dissolved Venu Sports venture. These high-stakes negotiations are becoming common, as YouTube TV recently solved its own dispute with Disney just before the Fubo deal closed. This isn't Fubo's first time at the rodeo, as it previously dropped Warner Bros. Discovery channels in a similar dispute.

Credit: Outlever

Key Takeaways

  • A carriage dispute between Fubo and NBCUniversal has blacked out over 40 channels, threatening subscriber access to Super Bowl LX.
  • The standoff over pricing affects 1.6 million subscribers, prompting Fubo to offer a $15 credit and lower monthly plan prices.
  • Disney's recent acquisition of Fubo complicates the negotiations, pitting NBCUniversal directly against its chief corporate rival in the dispute.