Fubo subscribers face ongoing blackout of all NBCUniversal channels since November 21, 2025, stripping access to NBC locals, USA Network, Bravo, Telemundo, and regional sports networks amid a heated carriage dispute over pricing and packaging demands. This impacts high-profile programming like Tuesday’s Knicks vs. Celtics NBA matchup on NBC, Sunday Night Football, Premier League soccer, NHL games, and Bravo’s Real Housewives season premieres including Beverly Hills on December 5. Fubo promises $15 bill credits starting December 1 while negotiations drag without resolution, forcing cord-cutters to pivot to alternatives like Peacock, DirecTV, and Hulu + Live TV.
Contract Dispute Escalates Between Providers
Fubo accuses NBCU of “egregiously” inflated terms exceeding those given to competitors, limiting consumer choice in a fragmented streaming landscape. NBCU counters that Fubo rejected standard deals accepted by hundreds of distributors, echoing the service’s prior drops of Warner channels in 2024. Affected lineup spans 40+ channels: national hits like CNBC, Syfy, E!, Golf Channel, Oxygen True Crime; locals including NBC and Telemundo affiliates; RSNs such as NBC Sports Bay Area, Boston, California, Philadelphia; and niche feeds like SNL Vault, Real Housewives Vault, and NBC Sports 4K.
NBA Games and Sports Coverage Alternatives
This week’s marquee Knicks-Celtics clash on NBC December 2 demands workarounds, as local market NBA broadcasts vanish alongside USA Network’s NHL slate and Universo soccer. Premier League enthusiasts lose NBC/Peacock exclusives, while Christmas in Rockefeller Center and new series like Stumble, Happy’s Place join casualties. Fubo’s sports-heavy audience feels the pinch hardest, with no projected return date despite “ongoing discussions” from both sides.
Peacock Delivers NBC Sports and Bravo Library
Peacock’s Premium plan at $11.99/month (ad-supported) streams live NBC sports, events, and thousands of hours of on-demand including Parks and Recreation, The Office, full Bravo catalog, originals like The Traitors, Poker Face, and Twisted Metal. Upgrade to $17.99 ad-free for local NBC affiliates beyond sports, offline downloads, and next-day Bravo episodes. Walmart+ bundles Peacock Premium free with $12.99/month membership (annual $49 promo), adding Paramount+ Essential, Apple Music trials, free shipping, gas discounts—ideal for multi-service households navigating blackouts.
DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV Restore Full Access
DirecTV Choice offers NBCU suite without contracts, $30 off first month plus $10+ monthly credits for 24 months on Choice/Ultimate/Premier packages—over $250 savings—plus 5-day free trial for testing 100+ channels including RSNs. Hulu + Live TV at $89.99/month bundles Disney+, Hulu on-demand (ads), ESPN+ for cord-cutters, with unlimited DVR, multi-device streaming, and 3-day trial; perfect for Disney bundle loyalists retaining NBC, Bravo amid Fubo gaps.
YouTube TV and Sling TV as Viable Switches
YouTube TV delivers NBC locals, Bravo, MSNBC with unlimited DVR and 3-day free trial, emphasizing family sharing and 4K sports select. Sling TV Blue at $45.99/month carries NBCU nationals minus some RSNs, ideal budget pivot with 50-hour DVR expandable. Both support easy Fubo cancellation—lacking pause options—for seamless transitions during prolonged disputes.
Subscriber Credits and Long-Term Outlook
Fubo auto-applies $15 credits for extended outage, confirmed via customer emails for December billing, softening immediate sting without pausing service. History suggests resolutions within weeks, but persistent friction signals rising carriage costs squeezing live TV viability. Viewers weigh multi-service bundles against blackouts, as sports exclusivity amplifies urgency for NBA, NFL, Premier League faithful.
The Fubo-NBCU standoff exemplifies streaming’s carriage wars, pitting sports rights inflation against distributor margins while viewers scramble. Peacock emerges strongest single-source fix for NBCU faithful, but diversified stacks via DirecTV/Hulu mitigate risks. Resolution hinges on compromise, yet credits and trials bridge gaps for loyal Fubo fans awaiting return.
