YouTube TV and Fox Corporation have reached a temporary extension in their carriage agreement, preventing immediate disruptions to Fox-owned channels on the streaming platform. This development comes as both parties continue negotiations to establish a long-term contract.
The existing agreement was set to expire at 5:00 PM ET on August 27, 2025, which could have led to the removal of channels such as Fox Sports, Fox News, and Fox Business from YouTube TV. The timing was particularly critical, coinciding with the commencement of the college football season, including a high-profile game between Texas and defending national champion Ohio State, broadcast by Fox.
YouTube TV, owned by Alphabet Inc., has accused Fox of demanding payment terms significantly higher than those of other content providers with comparable offerings. In response, Fox criticized Google for proposing terms that it claims are unfair and out of step with the marketplace. Fox has also launched a dedicated website, KeepFox.com, to inform viewers about the potential loss of access and to encourage them to contact YouTube TV to express their concerns.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr has urged Google to finalize a deal, emphasizing the importance of continued service for millions of viewers, especially during key events like the upcoming college football games.
In the event of an extended blackout of Fox channels, YouTube TV has committed to providing subscribers with a $10 credit. The base subscription for YouTube TV currently costs $82.99 per month.
This dispute highlights the growing tension in renegotiating streaming carriage agreements as live TV increasingly moves online. Similar disputes have occurred in the industry, such as the near-removal of Paramount Global channels earlier this year, which was eventually resolved to retain channels like CBS and Nickelodeon on YouTube TV.
As of early 2025, YouTube TV has approximately 9.4 million subscribers, making it the fourth-largest pay-TV provider in the United States, trailing Charter, Comcast, and DirecTV.
The temporary extension provides both parties additional time to negotiate a fair agreement without passing on additional costs to subscribers. However, the duration of this extension remains unclear, and the potential for future disruptions persists if a long-term deal is not reached.
