YouTube TV and Fox have reached a crucial, last-minute agreement preserving primary Fox channels on the streaming platform, averting a blackout that threatened millions of viewers just as the college football and NFL seasons kick off.
The renewal deal was finalized on Wednesday, moments before the 5 p.m. ET deadline set by both companies. Had negotiations faltered, channels such as Fox Broadcast Network, Fox Sports, FS1, Fox Business, and Fox News would have gone dark on YouTube TV, potentially impacting viewers’ access to high-profile sports events, including college football’s opening weekend, NFL games, and Major League Baseball coverage.
FOX and YouTube TV strike a last-minute deal.
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Throughout the high-stakes standoff, YouTube TV insisted that Fox’s proposed carriage fees far exceeded market norms for comparable content providers. Fox maintained its terms reflected the premium value of its national news and sports programming, which draws millions of live viewers every week. The dispute drew attention from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who publicly urged Google, YouTube TV’s parent company, to “get a deal done” for sports fans nationwide.
With an estimated 9.4 million subscribers, YouTube TV touted the new agreement as a win for its members, who will retain access to more than 100 live channels at the current $82.99 monthly rate. If Fox channels had been removed, YouTube TV had planned to offer a $10 monthly credit to affected users and directed fans to Fox’s new standalone streaming platform, Fox One, for sports access.
The resolution ensures that YouTube TV subscribers nationwide will be able to watch marquee contests, including the highly anticipated Texas vs. Ohio State clash and the first week of NFL action—events that attract tens of millions of live viewers each season.
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