Fox Corp. and YouTube TV reached a short-term extension Wednesday as they work toward a resolution of their carriage renewal negotiations.
The current contract for the Fox broadcast network, Fox news and other linear channels had been set to expire Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET. In carriage negotiations, short-term extension often signals a resolution is imminent.
YouTube TV said in a blog post that the extension was designed to “prevent disruption to YouTube TV subscribers as we continue to work on a new agreement. We are committed to advocating on behalf of our subscribers as we work toward a fair deal and will keep you updated on our progress.”
The impasse, which broke into view at the start of this week, threatens to leave YouTube TV’s 8 million subscribers without access to key programming like Saturday’s Texas-Ohio State football game. The matchup of top-rated teams is high-profile enough to have caught the eye of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
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“Google removing Fox channels from YouTube TV would be a terrible outcome,” Carr posted on X, even though the agency has no authority to intervene in the dispute. “Millions of Americans are relying on YouTube to resolve this dispute so they can keep watching the news and sports they want – including this week’s Big Game: Texas @ Ohio State. Get a deal done Google!”
YouTube responded with its own post on X. “We love football too @brendancarrfcc! We’re working hard to negotiate a deal that’s fair to Fox, our valued subscribers and all of our partners. Stay tuned.”
Just eight years after launching, YouTube TV had grown into one of the largest U.S. pay-TV providers. It has raised prices twice in two years, citing rising programming costs along with innovations like Multiview and discount access to NFL Sunday Ticket.
Beyond Saturday’s college football slate, just around the corner is the start of the NFL season, with Major League Baseball playoffs the World Series soon to follow.