Disney Takes the Helm at Fubo, Replacing Co-Founder David Gandler as CEO

In a surprising move, Disney has installed one of its own executives, Alisa Bowen, as the new CEO of Fubo, a streaming pay-TV provider. This change comes after Disney took a 70% stake in the company last October. David Gandler, who co-founded Fubo in 2015 and led it as CEO, will be stepping down from his position.

Bowen, a 10-year Disney veteran, most recently served as the president of Disney+. With her extensive experience in the streaming industry, Bowen is well-equipped to take the reins at Fubo and steer it towards future growth and success.

The takeover of Fubo by Disney resulted from a settlement of an antitrust lawsuit filed by Fubo in 2025. The lawsuit was a result of Disney’s attempt to launch a sports streaming venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. The sudden nature of the move suggests a degree of friction between the parties, with some industry sources suggesting that the Disney culture didn’t align with Gandler’s management style.

As Fubo’s new CEO, Bowen will be tasked with sharpening the company’s strategy across sports, news, and entertainment, accelerating growth, and driving profitability. She will also be responsible for delivering greater value to Fubo and Hulu + Live subscribers, advertisers, and content partners.

Fubo and Hulu + Live TV entered 2026 with 6.2 million subscribers combined. However, they still trail behind YouTube TV, which has over 10 million subscribers and is poised to become the No. 1 operator in the coming quarters. The virtual MVPD sector has struggled, with early upstart PlayStation Vue shuttering and Sling TV declining markedly. Fubo has not been immune to the pricing pressure, clashing with major programmers and resulting in long-term blackouts of channels owned by WBD and other big players.

Andy Bird, chairman of Fubo’s board, praised Bowen’s appointment, stating that she brings nearly 30 years of product, digital, and operational experience, including leadership across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. He expressed confidence in her ability to drive global subscriber growth and profitability.

Bowen expressed her enthusiasm for leading Fubo in its next phase, saying that she looks forward to sharpening the company’s strategy, accelerating growth, and driving profitability, while delivering greater value to Fubo and Hulu + Live subscribers, advertisers, and content partners.

The sudden change in leadership has sparked questions about the future of Fubo under Disney’s guidance. However, with Bowen at the helm, the company is poised to navigate the challenges of the streaming industry and emerge stronger than ever.

Key Statistics:

• Fubo and Hulu + Live TV have 6.2 million subscribers combined.
• YouTube TV has over 10 million subscribers.
• Fubo has not been immune to the pricing pressure, clashing with major programmers and resulting in long-term blackouts of channels owned by WBD and other big players.