Deadline reported that after a two-month blackout of channels, including the Hispanic broadcast network Univision, YouTube TV and TelevisaUnivision have reached a distribution renewal.
The multi-year carriage agreement establishes a broad partnership that covers the distribution of TelevisaUnivision’s U.S. channels–Univision, Unimas, TUDN, and Galavision–on YouTube TV’s Base and Spanish Plans, according to Deadline. Beyond linear TV, the deal expands the reach of TelevisaUnivision’s streaming service, Vix, by offering it on YouTube’s Primetime Channels, including an inaugural launch in Mexico. Finally, the programmer and YouTube plan to collaborate on new strategies to feature TelevisaUnivision’s content on the main, free YouTube platform.
The removal of TelevisaUnivision’s networks occurred on September 30th via Deadline. This came during a period when YouTube TV was also negotiating with NBCUniversal, a standoff which, unlike others with Paramount and Fox Corp., was resolved without channels going dark. However, YouTube did recently face a 15-day blackout that impacted Disney networks such as ABC and ESPN.
Having surpassed 10 million subscribers since launching in 2017, YouTube TV is now among the largest pay-TV distributors in the U.S., according to Deadline. Due to this size, the operator has increased its financial demands on programmers and is actively trying to gain control over the content presentation and valuable user data. Media companies aiming to promote their own streaming platforms are often opposed to “Ingestion,” the requirement to integrate their content directly into YouTube TV’s interface. Furthermore, the tech giant’s channel store is controversial among partners like Disney because of the extensive user data control it confers to YouTube.
“In addition to restoring their channels to YouTube TV, this new agreement will offer their streaming service, Vix, to more countries around the world through our Primetime Channels,” a YouTube TV spokesperson said in a statement via Deadline. “We are also excited to partner with TelevisaUnivision to grow their presence across YouTube by bringing more content to YouTube’s global audiences and new bundled offers to the marketplace.”
mxdwn reported recent incident regarding Disney and its owned channels being blacked out as well. Due to this inconvenience, 24 percent reported having either already cancelled their subscription or are about to. On October 30th, around midnight, YouTube TV stopped airing Disney’s programs, according to Variety.
NBCUniversal also informed YouTube TV subscribers that a potential blackout may occur due to a dispute over carriage fees and terms. mxdwn says 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.