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Companies Behind Venu Sports Press Courts for Speedy Appeal

Companies Behind Venu Sports Press Courts for Speedy Appeal

By Movieguide® Contributor

Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery are pressing the courts for a speedy appeal after their sports streaming service was shut down. 

The companies had banded together to create Venu, a sports streaming platform that would “bring the most sought-after live sports from the top leagues and teams, together in one place. All in a new app built from the ground up for sports fans,” according to their website. 

However, the launch was put on hold after a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of FuboTV, another sports streamer who “alleged the launch of Venu would put it out of business,” Variety reported

“The judge found that Fubo would likely prevail on claims that the new broadband entity would ‘substantially lessen competition and restrain trade,’” the outlet continued. 

Now, Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery are working to have this decision appealed, claiming that Judge Margaret Garnett’s decision contained “multiple legal errors.”

The group added that they are “losing tens of millions of dollars that they have invested in a start-up business that has been blocked from coming to market, dozens of employees who were hired to work for Venu are left in limbo, and consumers are denied access to the innovative new product that Venu would have provided and the increased competition that would result from a new product offering,” per Deadline. 

Fubo agreed to speed up the appeal process but released a statement alleging there are “numerous misstatements, unsupported factual assertions, and mischaracterizations of the district court’s decision” in their opponent’s suit.

Movieguide® previously reported on Judge Garnett’s ruling:

The launch of ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Venu Sports, dubbed “the future home of sports streaming,” has been temporarily blocked after Fubo, a smaller sports streaming platform, requested a preliminary injunction.

Per ESPN, “United States District Judge Margaret M. Garnett in the Southern District of New York said in her 69-page ruling Friday that Fubo was likely to be successful in proving that the joint venture would violate antitrust laws and that Fubo and consumers would ‘face irreparable harm in the absence of an injunction.’”

ESPN obviously disagrees with the judge’s ruling, saying, “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,” the network added

Fubo is grateful for the ruling.

“Today’s ruling is a victory not only for Fubo but also for consumers,” said Fubo CEO David Gandler. “This decision will help ensure that consumers have access to a more competitive marketplace with multiple sports streaming options.”


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