After reaching deals with AMC, Turner (TNT, TBS, CNN), Discovery, and NBCUniversal (Bravo, E!, USA, CNBC) in June — and presumably NFL Network in July — PlayStation Vue has two upcoming expiring deals. One of those deals is with [Eleven Sports] in August and then with NBA TV in September.
On their website, PlayStation Vue shared:
Most of the programming/content you watch on PlayStation™Vue is licensed from programmers for the right to air their networks/channels. Once these agreements near expiration, we enter into renewal discussions where we work hard to try and obtain the best value for our customers. Though infrequent, sometimes certain licenses will not be renewed, in which case PlayStation™Vue would no longer carry the affected channels or networks. This section will be updated periodically to list channels and networks coming up for renewal. Please note that the dates listed below are subject to change.
In the past, Dwayne Benefield, GM of PlayStation Vue has said he thinks that the days of annual increases in content is over. “Consumers are saying enough is enough,” exclaimed Benefield. “If you look at the programmers, there’s an assumption…that they’re going to continue to drive increases in affiliate programming fees to help support their cash flows, which gets passed down to distributors, which are then passed down to consumers.”
In April, PlayStation Vue was unable to come to an agreement with NESN which saw the channel dropped from their service. In the past, the service has had disputes with Sinclair Media Group which so locals disappear for a few months and Viacom which had their channels removed in November 2016.
This is not new to the streaming industry. DIRECTV NOW removed NFL Network from their service last month after their agreement with the channel was not extended. In the last few months, AT&T has also had extended disputes with Viacom and A+E — but were able to come to last minute agreements with the media companies.