Deadline has reported that NBCUniversal has informed YouTube TV subscribers that a potential blackout may occur due to a dispute over carriage fees and terms. Televisa Univision is also embroiled in discussions with YouTube TV over similar issues. Both of the companies’ current agreements expire at the end of this month. If both companies do not reach an agreement, much of Latin TV would be blacked out, as Univision and Telemundo, owned by NBCU, would be unavailable to YouTube TV subscribers.
According to Deadline, NBC Universal-owned properties such as Sunday Night Football, Big Ten Football, WWE, the NBA, the Premier League, Real Housewives, and The Voice may also be affected.
According to Deadline, the crux of the negotiations has been about the integration of the streaming platform Peacock. YouTube has proposed that Peacock properties be integrated into the YouTube TV interface so subscribers would not have to jump between applications.
Via Deadline, NBCU has been reluctant to relinquish that much control over the viewing experience, and while YouTube has offered compensation, NBCU has not yet found the amount adequate. Peacock subscribers’ numbers still fall behind many of its competitors, although it has made up ground in the sports arena as of late. Recently, it added NBA programming in a deal that will go into effect in October.
Deadline has reported that an NBCU spokesperson cited Google, YouTube’s parent company, and its massive market cap as reasoning for stalling. Google “already controls what Americans see online through search and ads – now it wants to control what we watch. YouTube TV has refused the best rates and terms in the market, demanding preferential treatment and seeking an unfair advantage over competitors to dominate the video marketplace – all under the false pretense of fighting for the consumer.”
Via Deadline, a YouTube spokesperson has replied that NBCU is “asking us to pay more than what they charge consumers for the same content on Peacock, which would mean less flexibility and higher prices for our subscribers. We are committed to working with NBCUniversal to reach a fair deal for both sides ahead of our current agreement expiring on September 30. If their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we’ll offer our subscribers a $10 credit.”