YouTube TV could lose as many as 24 national channels today, due to a dispute with Paramount Global. If the dispute isn’t resolved, YouTube TV subscribers are expected to lose access to a number of popular channels, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV and Paramount.
As is always the case, the dispute comes down to carriage fees. According to YouTube, the company has been “working hard to reach a fair agreement with Paramount” but has so far failed to do so. The statement from YouTube also suggests that agreeing to the current terms would result in “passing on additional costs to our subscribers.”
Following the February 13 deadline, more than 20 national channels are expected to be removed from the lineup, as well as a number of local stations and select add-ons. Subscribers would also lose access to any library recordings from these channels and add-on services.
Full list of affected national channels:
- BET
- BET Her
- CBS
- CBS Sports Network
- CMT
- Comedy Central
- Comet TV
- Dabl
- MTV
- MTV Classic
- MTV2
- MyNetwork TV
- NewsNation
- Nick Jr.
- Nick Toons
- Nickelodeon
- Paramount
- Pop
- Smithsonian Channel
- Start TV
- Teen Nick
- Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas
- TV Land
- VH1
If these channels are removed, existing YouTube TV subscribers are set to receive an $8 monthly credit. This also happens to be the exact minimum cost of a monthly Paramount+ subscription. Paramount+ provides access to a range of content from many of the affected channels.
$8 to $13/mo
- Originals
- Showtime
- Live Sports
In addition to the national channels, the dispute would also result in the loss of various local stations, including Atlanta 69 (WUPA), Boston TV38 (WSBK), Dallas-Fort Worth KTXA, New York (WLNYDT), Philadelphia 57 (WPSG), Pittsburgh KDKA+ (WPCW), Sacramento KMAX 31 (KMAX), San Francisco KPIX+ (KPYX), Seattle 11 (KSTW), and Tampa Bay 44 (WTOG).
Along with the loss of the national channels and local stations, the dispute will result in the removal of the BET+ and Paramount+ with Showtime add-ons, and affect the Entertainment Plus and Spanish Plus add-ons. Subscribers to any of these add-ons can also expect to receive a full or partial refund, depending on how greatly the add-on is affected.
YouTube TV says it is committed to finding an agreement with Paramount, so it is possible that this situation might be resolved before the deadline.
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