Fall TV is imminent and with it the regular NFL season, but it comes with a new challenge due to a YouTubeTV dispute. Football fans have been enjoying preseason games as they gear up for their teams to hit the field in force starting September 4. But there's a carriage battle unfolding between a broadcaster and a streamer that could keep cord-cutters from watching the beginning of the season.
Cable and satellite TV subscribers endure disruptions in service when a broadcaster and a TV provider can't come to an agreement about licensing. Deals do tend to be reached, but there are times when channels go dark before that can happen. Nexstar triggered a blackout of CW affiliate stations in 2023 when they couldn't reach a distribution agreement with DirecTV.
The blackout affected 10 million subscribers and didn't end for nearly three months. With it already being late August, a carriage dispute of that length would mean some NFL fans will miss much of the regular season if they don't switch platforms. With more and more sports programming moving to streaming, these disruptions can and do affect streaming-only households.
YouTubeTV is currently in a dispute with FOX. If the streamer doesn't reach a carriage deal with the company by August 27 at 5 p.m. ET, subscribers will lose access to their local FOX stations, the FOX channel, FOX News Channel, Big Ten Network, FOX Sports, FOX Deportes, FS1, and FS2.
This blackout will affect NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers, too. If the NFL game is being broadcast on FOX local station, it will not be available to stream on YouTube TV. Without a carriage deal, the streamer cannot air programming that requires a license to allow customers to view the content.
What A FOX Blackout Means For NFL Fans Who Subscribe To YouTubeTV
Youtube TV logo
Youtube TV logo
Unfortunately, this is a wait and see moment for YouTubeTV subscribers. The streamer and the broadcaster are in negotiations, but YouTube has stated, "FOX is asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive."
FOX has accused Google of exploiting an influence they deem is outsized when negotiating terms. They say the company isn't in step with the marketplace and don't believe an agreement can be reached unless Google engages meaningfully.
YouTube is looking to reach a deal that "reflects the value of [FOX's] content and is fair for both sides without passing on additional costs to our subscribers," which means NFL fans could be in for a wait.
Our Take On How The FOX &YouTubeTV Dispute Will Impact NFL Fans
Patrick Mahomes holding up Super Bowl trophy in post game celebration
Patrick Mahomes holding up Super Bowl trophy in post game celebration
YouTube has assured customers that they will provide a $10 credit if the blackout lasts for an extended period of time. However, that may not appease NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers.
The subscription plan is $60/month for the package or $82.99/month for the YouTubeTV bundle. The lack of a carriage deal would put YouTube in a position where they are not providing "every game, every Sunday all in one place," which is what customers expect for the price they pay.
If a blackout happens, NFL fans subscribed to YouTubeTV will miss games starting September 7. That's 6 out of 13 games in Week 1. They'll continue to miss them until an agreement is reached.
Short of subscribing to FOX's own streamer, FOX One, there isn't much fans can do to continue watching games from home if they don't have an antenna for broadcast access or a cable/satellite TV subscription.
FOX One is $19.99/month and is also available as an add-on channel for Prime Video. Subscribers have access to FOX's sports, news, and entertainment programming across their brands.