FCC chair pressures Google to make new deal with Fox
FCC chair pressures Google to make new deal with Fox
Brendan Carr posted on social media that YouTube TV’s parent company YouTube should get things moving in the carriage dispute with Fox.
Are Fox and YouTube TV going to play nicely, or will the first full week of college football games be marred by the absence of Fox-owned channels on the streaming service? Fans are anxiously awaiting the answer to that question, as Fox-owned channels could disappear from YouTube TV as soon as Wednesday, Aug. 27, thanks to a dispute over carriage fees between the two. Now, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr has entered the chat, posting on social media that Google needs to make a deal happen.
Key Details:
- Make it happen: Carr pressured Google to “get a deal done!” before Saturday’s college football slate.
- Not far apart?: YouTube replied to Carr that viewers should “stay tuned.”
- Other options: Consumers have several other choices for streaming Fox without cable if needed.
Carr made his opinion on the carriage dispute known in a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. In the post, Carr put all the onus for making a deal on Google and YouTube, seemingly ignoring the possibility that Fox’s intransigence is adding to the dispute in any way. He ended by telling Google to “get a deal done!” before the Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes game on Fox on Saturday afternoon.
YouTube TV responded to Carr’s post, saying that it too loves college football and suggesting that negotiations were ongoing before ending the communication with a potentially hopeful “stay tuned.” That final message could suggest that perhaps a deal isn’t far off anyway.
We love football too @brendancarrfcc! We’re working hard to negotiate a deal that’s fair to Fox, our valued subscribers and all of our partners. Stay tuned
— Updates From YouTube (@UpdatesFromYT) August 26, 2025
For others looking for context: https://t.co/dgM9kotfLo
Partisan observers will, of course, note Carr’s imposition on the proceedings as a sign of favoritism toward Fox, whose right-wing editorial stance on the Fox News channel has given favorable coverage to President Trump and his officials in the past. No doubt, Carr himself would say his message to Google was nothing more than an impassioned plea from a football fan who doesn’t want to lose access to marquee games.
As is always the case in carriage disputes, Fox and YouTube TV have both laid blame on the other for causing the disagreement in the first place. Although no specifics of the negotiations are available, it seems most likely that both sides will have to give a little to ensure Fox channels are not pulled from YouTube TV, or are restored quickly if they are pulled.
If Fox and YouTube don’t agree to a new carriage deal, there are several options for viewers to use to watch Fox channels instead, including Fox’s own new direct-to-consumer platform Fox One. On the whole, however, The Streamable doesn’t expect this carriage dispute to linger for too much longer, especially with the existing pressure being put on the disagreement by the return of college football this weekend.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.