Judge Halts Launch of Venu Sports Amid Antitrust Concerns

A U.S. judge has temporarily blocked the launch of Venu Sports, a new streaming service backed by Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros Discovery, citing antitrust concerns raised by rival FuboTV. The judge ruled that Venu could monopolize sports rights and harm competition. The media companies plan to appeal the decision.

A U.S. judge temporarily halted the launch of Venu Sports, a new streaming service backed by media giants Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros Discovery, on Friday. The decision comes amid antitrust complaints from rival FuboTV, which alleges that the service would monopolize sports broadcasting and inflate consumer prices.

Judge Margaret Garnett ruled that FuboTV's antitrust claims are likely to succeed, leading her to issue an injunction against Venu Sports. The new service aimed to offer a comprehensive platform for live sports events, but its launch, initially planned for this fall, has now been delayed.

The media companies involved argue that Venu Sports would enhance consumer choice by providing a competitive option specifically for sports fans. However, Judge Garnett highlighted the potential monopolistic control Venu could exert over sports broadcasting rights. FuboTV maintains that the media giants forced it to carry less popular non-sports channels, damaging its business.

(With inputs from agencies.)