YouTube TV subscribers may soon lose access to Sunday Night Football, The Voice, and other NBCUniversal properties as the two sides clash over a carriage agreement set to expire at the end of the month.
The potential blackout underscores how the rise of YouTube TV has shifted the balance of power in streaming and live television. The platform, which has grown to about 10 million subscribers, is no longer a fringe service. It is now a major distributor with the ability to influence negotiations once dominated by traditional cable and satellite providers.
In a statement, NBCUniversal accused YouTube TV of rejecting competitive market rates while demanding special treatment.
“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,” the company said. “The result: YouTube TV customers will lose access to NBCUniversal’s premium programming.”
NBCUniversal has launched a broad messaging campaign to pressure YouTube TV. Viewers have already seen digital ads warning them they could soon lose access to marquee events and shows, from NFL games to Premier League soccer. The company also claimed YouTube TV is seeking to leverage Peacock, NBC’s own streaming service, at significantly lower rates while holding onto valuable subscriber data.
NBCUniversal has never gone dark in its U.S. history, even under previous ownership by Comcast or General Electric. That track record raises the stakes in the current standoff.
YouTube TV responded Thursday night, framing NBCUniversal’s demands as unreasonable and harmful to consumers.
“NBCUniversal 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,” the company said. “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.”
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