YouTube TV could cut 14 NBC channels and lower subscription price

A contractual dispute between YouTube TV and NBC Universal could cause Peacock Network to remove 14 of its channels from the streaming TV provider by September 30, the two services warned on Sunday, leaving the more than 3 million subscribers of the platform without access to programs like Sunday night football, Late at night with Jimmy Fallon, and Law and order SVU.

According to a Blog Posted by YouTube, owned by Google, acknowledging the deadlock, the two companies have so far been unable to reach a “fair deal” in negotiations to renew their existing contract, which is due to expire on Thursday 30 September. If a new agreement is not reached. t reached on time, YouTube TV subscribers risk losing valuable NBCU programming, which currently includes channels like NBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Golf Channel, Bravo, CNBC, Telemundo and others.

“Our request is that NBCU treat YouTube TV like any other TV provider,” YouTube wrote in a declaration. “In other words, during the term of our agreement, YouTube TV charges the same rates that similarly sized services get from NBCU so that we can continue to offer YouTube TV to members at a competitive and fair price.”

Perhaps not shockingly, NBCUniversal characterized the dispute differently in its own statement; according to 9to5Google, the company says it is seeking “fair rates” for its streaming offering from Google, which so far “refuses to make a deal … and is willing to refuse entertainment, news and sports programs to its paying customers “.

If the deadline arrives and no deal has been reached, YouTube TV says it will drop monthly prices by $ 10 per month, from $ 64.99 to $ 54.99, as long as the content remains out of the box. the platform. YouTube TV also notes that users are also encouraged to subscribe to NBC’s own direct-to-consumer streaming service, peacock, for $ 4.99 / month.

This isn’t the first time that a distribution deal has created a very public dispute for YouTube TV in recent months. In May, the platform publicly argued with Sinclair over distribution fees for its regional sports networks, which have since disappeared from the platform altogether. It’s also worth noting that Internet streaming bundles, in general, are somewhat of a headache for platforms, as the frequent contract renegotiations they require often force platforms to raise prices. for customers, to the point that the prices for monthly subscriptions are now almost level. the price of traditional pay television.