YouTube TV subscribers still have access to a range of channels owned by Paramount, and will continue to for now. This follows the news earlier this week that YouTube and Paramount were failing to agree a new deal, leading to the possibility of a wide variety of national channels, local stations, and add-ons being dropped.
The deadline for a new deal to be reached was last night. While a new deal still hasn’t been reached, YouTube has confirmed that the two companies have agreed to a short-term extension. This extension allows subscribers to retain access to the channels while YouTube and Paramount continue to negotiate a new agreement.
“We’ve reached a short-term extension as we work toward a deal with Paramount to keep their content on YouTube TV. YouTube TV subscribers continue to have access to Paramount channels, including CBS, and any recordings that are in their Library. We appreciate your patience as we continued to negotiate on your behalf. We also value Paramount’s partnership and willingness to work towards an agreement,” YouTube said in a statement.
An extension can sometimes be a good indicator that the two companies are progressing in their negotiations and that a deal might eventually be agreed.
However, an extension is only ever a temporary measure and not a guarantee of the outcome. As a result, all of the channels that were on the line, remain on the line for now.
Previously, YouTube had suggested that one of the hurdles to agreeing a new deal was the expectation that a deal would result in passing on additional costs to subscribers. Considering YouTube TV only recently increased the price of its base package, this would appear to be something YouTube is actively trying to avoid.
If a new deal is agreed, it remains unclear whether this hurdle would have been overcome, and without having to pass on any costs to consumers.
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