By Michaela Gordoni
Fox warned its customers last week that they may lose access to its services if YouTube TV if it didn’t resolve their carriage disagreement, but it looks like they won’t go dark on the streamer quite yet.
“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 said on Wednesday. “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.”
Both sides agreed to a short-term extension. Fox Corp. had claimed that Google, YouTube’s parent company, had created “terms that are out of step with the marketplace.” This means Fox wants higher programming fees from Google, Variety reported Wednesday.
Related: Here’s Why Fox Content May Disappear from YouTube TV
Hours before the extension agreement, YouTube said it made a deal with Herring Networks to carry OAN on YouTube TV in this year’s fourth quarter. The right-wing channel may have been a substitute for Fox if the parties didn’t come to an agreement.
“Fox is asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive,” YouTube wrote in its Monday blog post last week.
If Fox had blacked out on YouTube TV, customers would have lost access to some college games and other broadcasts, CBS News reported. Fox recommended users subscribe to Fox One, its new streaming service, if the blackout did occur. The service starts at $19.99 per month.
Fox said, “YouTube TV customers could be deprived of some of the fall’s biggest television sporting events, including NFL on Fox, College Football on Fox, FS1 and Big Ten Network, and MLB on Fox and FS1.”
Fox Corp. channels available on YouTube TV include Fox local stations; BTN; Fox Business; Fox Deportes; Fox News; Fox Soccer Plus; Fox Soul; Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and Fox Sports 2 (FS2); Fox Weather; KTVU Plus; and LiveNow from Fox. Fox Nation is an optional add-on for $7.99 per month.
Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, said on X last Tuesday, “Google removing Fox channels from YouTube TV would be a terrible outcome. 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. Get a deal done Google!”
In 2021, YouTube TV subscribers experienced a two-day blackout of Disney channels while the parties discussed their carriage contract terms.
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