YouTube TV subscribers may lose access to Fox content, including sports, due to contract dispute
NEW YORK — Fox channels could soon be pulled from YouTube TV if the two sides don't ink a new content use deal Wednesday, potentially leaving subscribers of the Google-owned streamer without Week 1 of some college football games and other content.
That’s because the current carriage agreement between YouTube TV and Fox is nearing a renewal deadline. And if terms of a new deal aren’t met by 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, Fox channels like Fox Sports, Business and News will become unavailable on the platform.
In a Monday blog post, YouTube said Fox was “asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive.” The company added it hoped to reach a deal that's “fair for both sides" without "passing on additional costs to our subscribers.”
If Fox content becomes unavailable on YouTube TV “for an extended period of time,” YouTube also noted it would provide members with a $10 credit. YouTube TV’s base plan — which currently boasts access to over 100 live channels — costs $82.99 a month.
A spokesperson for Google did not have any additional comments when reached Wednesday by the Associated Press.
Fox said Wednesday it was “disappointed that Google continually exploits its outsized influence by proposing terms that are out of step with the marketplace.” The broadcast giant added it remained committed to reaching an agreement, but was alerting viewers they could potentially lose access to Fox programming on YouTube TV “unless Google engages in a meaningful way soon.”
Fox directed subscribers to keepfox.com — a site noting, in addition to Fox Sports, Business and News, YouTube TV may no longer carry FS1 and the Big Ten Network, which is majority-owned by Fox, if a deal isn't reached.
Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has also chimed in on the dispute — while appearing to target Google particularly. He called on the tech company to “get a deal done” in a post on social media Tuesday.
“Google removing Fox channels from YouTube TV would be a terrible outcome,” Carr wrote on X. “Millions of Americans are relying on YouTube to resolve this dispute so they can keep watching the news and sports they want—including this week’s Big Game: Texas @ Ohio State.”
From sports events to awards shows, live programming that was once reserved for broadcast has increasingly made its way into the streaming world over the years — as more and more consumers ditch traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions for content they can get online. But renewing carriage agreements can also mean tense contract negotiations — at times resulting in service disruptions.
YouTube TV has been down this road before. In 2021 YouTube TV subscribers briefly lost access to all Disney content on the platform, including networks like ESPN and local ABC stations, after a contract breakdown between the two companies. That outage lasted less than two days, with the companies eventually reaching an agreement.
Beyond deals with YouTube TV and others, Fox last week launched its own streaming platform. “Fox One," which has a starting price of $19.99 a month.
