Fox Corporation and Google-owned YouTube TV have come to a short-term extension to avoid a service disruption, it was announced just after Wednesday’s 5 PM ET deadline. Terms were not immediately known.
The companies released dueling statements Monday saying that it was possible they could fail to reach a deal by Wednesday’s deadline, and the potential disruption has loomed large over the start of the college football season this weekend — which includes a marquee FOX game between Ohio State and Texas. According to Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports, YouTube TV subscribers will be able to watch the matchup this weekend.
“We have reached a short-term extension with Fox to prevent disruption to YouTube TV subscribers as we continue to work on a new agreement,” YouTube said in a blog update. “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.”
Fox previously said that it made several offers to YouTube TV that were “customer friendly” and accused Google of exploiting “its outsized influence by proposing terms that are out of step with the marketplace.” FCC chairman Brendan Carr appeared to take the Fox side of the argument, saying on the social media platform X that “[m]illions of Americans are relying on YouTube to resolve this dispute so they can keep watching the news and sports they want.” YouTube replied to Carr’s post on X by saying it was working to negotiate a deal fair to Fox, its subscribers and partners.
In the event Fox networks are eventually pulled for an extended period of time, YouTube TV plans to give users a $10 credit, in keeping with previous conflicts.
YouTube TV has been involved in carriage disputes in the past, including with Paramount this past February. The two sides ultimately reached a deal but issued public statements surrounding purported consternation in the days leading up to the resolution. YouTube TV also had a two-day blackout of Disney-owned channels in 2021 before coming to an agreement on a new deal.
