
YouTube TV could lose a bunch of channels this week if its parent company, Google, fails to strike a last-minute deal with Comcast-owned NBCUniversal to broadcast its programming.
Pricing talks have stalled as the two companies failed to agree on a fair price for the entertainment giant’s content.
If the issue is not resolved by Thursday, September 30, YouTube TV subscribers will lose access to NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E !, Golf Channel, MSNBC, Oxygen, SYFY, Telemundo, The Olympic Channel, Universal Kids, Universo and American Network. A series of regional NBC Sports networks will also be phased out of the service.
That’s a lot of programming for those who signed up to YouTube TV, so if that happens, Google has said it will cut $ 10 off the monthly subscription fee, bringing it down to $ 55 starting October 1.
But I hope it doesn’t come to that.
“We have been working to renew our agreement with NBCUniversal to continue broadcasting their content on YouTube TV,” Google Explain in a blog post on Sunday September 26.
He said he wanted NBCU to treat YouTube TV “like any other TV provider”, adding that he was looking for “the same rates that services of similar size get from NBCU”.
Commenting on the stalemate, NBCUniversal said it was seeking “fair rates” from Google for the continued use of its programming, adding, “Unfortunately, Google refuses to make a deal at these fair rates and is prepared to decline the entertainment, news and sports. programming of their paying customers.
NBCU even set up a website called “you need channels” to pressure Google to agree to the terms. The website suggests that YouTube TV subscribers tweet the video streaming giant with the message, “Don’t drop my favorite channels like NBC, Telemundo, USA, Bravo, MSNBC, NBCSN, Golf Channel, SYFY and more.” I deserve the channels I pay for! A link to change streaming provider is also provided.
It’s not clear if Google wants a price cut or if NBCU wants to raise its fees, but either way, they haven’t been able to come to a deal so far. Digital Trends has contacted both companies for more information and we will update this article when we have a response.
Google confirmed in its post on Sunday that the two companies are still in talks as they work to resolve the issue before Thursday’s deadline.
YouTube TV was launched in 2017 and currently offers subscribers over 85 channels. During the company’s third quarter 2020 earnings call, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the streaming service has more than 3 million paid subscribers, but was no more specific than that.
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