YouTube TV and NBCU Are Finalizing a New Carriage Deal, Channels to Remain on Service
YouTube TV and NBCUniversal are closing in on a deal and the channels will not go dark, a source close to the negotiations confirmed to The Streamable. NBC local channels, NBC Regional Sports Networks, and NBCU-owned cable channels will remain on the service. Peacock will not be included as part of the deal.
The channels that would have been affected include all NBC local affiliates, as well as Bravo, CNBC, E!, Golf Channel, MSNBC, NBC Sports Network, Oxygen, Syfy, Telemundo, Universal Kids, Universo, and USA Network. Customers would have also lost their local NBC Sports RSNs — including NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago, NBC Sports Philadelphia, and NBC Sports Washington.
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Sign Up | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $25 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
| Bravo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| CNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | + $6 | ✓ | |
| E! | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Golf Channel | + $15 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | + $11 | ✓ | |
| MSNBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NBC Sports Bay Area | + $29 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| NBC Sports California | + $29 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| NBC Sports Chicago | + $29 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| NBC Sports Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| NBC Sports Philadelphia | - | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| NBC Sports Washington | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Oxygen | + $40 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | + $6 | ✓ | |
| Syfy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Telemundo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| Universal Kids | + $40 | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | - | ✓ | |
| Universo | + $15 | + $10 | + $5 | - | - | + $6 | ✓ | |
| USA Network | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
While last night was the deadline for the two sides to reach a deal, they agreed to a temporary extension that lasted until this evening. Had they not reached a deal, YouTube TV would have dropped the price of the service to $54.99 a month.
At the center of the dispute was NBCU wanted to bundle Peacock in their service. YouTube TV was understandably hesitant, already having raised its monthly price by $15 after last summer's addition of ViacomCBS channels.
YouTube TV was also looking for a MFN (most favored nation) clause that will guarantee them the same rate for the channels as other cable distributors of the same size. It is not clear whether that was included in the agreement.
But for YouTube TV subscribers, by reaching a deal they will be able to stream Notre Dame Football on NBC tomorrow and the big return of Tom Brady to Foxboro on Sunday.