Is YouTube TV offering a credit for Paramount channel blackout?
Is YouTube TV offering a credit for Paramount channel blackout?
Customers can apply for a credit to help pay for Paramount+ while they wait for the carriage dispute to end.
Customers losing access to prized content is never an ideal outcome, but unfortunately, that looks to be the outcome of a brewing carriage dispute between Paramount and YouTube TV. Paramount-owned channels will be blacked out for YouTube TV customers starting Feb. 13 barring a last-minute reprieve, but YouTube TV is offering at least some compensation for customers who are affected by the dispute.
Key Details:
- YouTube TV will provide a credit of $8 if the blackout lasts for an “extended period of time.”
- Customers will automatically stop being charged for bundled Paramount+ or BET+ content.
- Viewers with the Entertainment Plus bundle will get $10 off while the blackout continues.
The first offer from YouTube TV for customers affected by the Paramount dispute is for an $8 credit off their monthly bill. There is an important catch, however; YouTube TV says it will only be giving this credit if Paramount content is unavailable for an “extended period of time,” and offers no concrete definition of how long that might be. The Google Support Page set up to answer questions about the dispute directs users to tv.youtube.com to claim the credit.
If viewers do manage to get the credit, $8 would be enough to pay for a temporary subscription to Paramount+. Its ad-supported Essential plan costs $8 per month, and while it doesn’t come with a live stream of CBS or other channels, it can be used to watch a wide range of Paramount content on-demand.
If you purchased a Paramount+ or BET+ subscription through YouTube TV’s Primetime Channels, the streamer warns you will lose access to those subscriptions while the dispute plays out. You will not have to take any action to avoid being charged, however; YouTube TV will ensure you do not pay for those subscriptions if you don’t have access to the content.
Customers with YouTube TV’s Entertainment Plus bundle, which includes Max, STARZ, and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME will lose their access to the latter service. However, YouTube TV will charge $10 per month less for the bundle for the duration of the carriage dispute, lowering the cost to $20 per month total.
The upcoming NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament starting March 20 will likely give YouTube TV and Paramount extra incentive to make a deal, so the carriage dispute could be relatively short-lived. If it isn’t, however, YouTube TV is prepared to compensate customers for their lost content.
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.