Fox, YouTube TV reach short-term deal to avoid blackout
Fox, YouTube TV reach short-term deal to avoid blackout
The two sides are continuing to work on a long-term solution, but for now, the first weekend of college football is safe.
College football fans can breathe a sigh of relief this weekend — if they’re YouTube TV subscribers, anyway. Access to the blockbuster matchup of Texas vs. Ohio State on Fox was threatened by a potential blackout of Fox channels on YouTube TV, as a carriage dispute that could have caused the channels to be pulled has been brewing all week. Fortunately, the crisis has been averted for one weekend at least, as Fox and YouTube TV announced on Wednesday that they have a short-term agreement to keep the channels in place.
Key Details:
- Just in time: The previous carriage deal between Fox and YouTube expired at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
- Sports and more: The deal will allow YouTube TV to continue carrying Fox News, FS1, and other channels.
- Hinting around: A previous communication from YouTube TV intimated some movement could be imminent in the dispute.
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The new, short-term deal between Fox and YouTube TV was announced on Wednesday afternoon. The agreement came just in time, as the previous carriage pact between the two was set to expire at 5 p.m. ET, after which Fox channels would have been blacked out on YouTube TV.
“We have reached a short-term extension with Fox to prevent disruption to YouTube TV subscribers as we continue to work on a new agreement,” YouTube’s statement said. “We are committed to advocating on behalf of our subscribers as we work toward a fair deal and will keep you updated on our progress.”
Had the channels been blacked out on YouTube TV, customers of that service would have lost access to the Fox broadcast channel, as well as FS1, [FS2][Fox Sports 2], Fox News, and more popular networks. Now, the two sides will have an undisclosed period of time — likely a few weeks or so — to keep working toward a longer agreement.
YouTube TV seemed to hint that a new deal could be in the works on Tuesday afternoon, in a response to FCC chair Brendan Carr's call to get a deal done. They cautioned impatient customers to “stay tuned” for more updates about the situation, and they delivered on those intimations on Wednesday afternoon.
How are you feeling, YouTube TV subscribers? Are you glad that a crisis has been averted for the moment, or concerned that a long-term deal between Fox and YouTube TV will lead to a price increase? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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.
