With the beginning of the NFL season looming, it’s additionally a window the place many TV contracts are up for renewal, and on Monday night, YouTube TV and Fox despatched out alerts indicating that their contract may come to an finish as quickly as August twenty seventh, at 5PM ET. Google-owned YouTube TV says that “Fox is asking for funds which might be far increased than what companions with comparable content material choices obtain,” whereas Fox claims that “Google is making an attempt to make use of its market energy to strain FOX to comply with unfavorable and one-sided phrases, prioritizing their very own pursuits over a good settlement for its buyer.”
Channels in danger embody Fox Information, Fox Enterprise, Fox Sports activities, and the Massive Ten Community. However in areas the place Fox additionally owns the native broadcast community, a disruption may additionally value viewers entry to a bit of NFL video games, which is why the contract is up for renewal now. Terrible Saying factors out that the primary huge sport on the slate is a university soccer matchup, Texas vs. Ohio State on Saturday, earlier than week considered one of NFL video games begins the next weekend.
Aside from navigating the shrinking attain and affect of conventional cable TV, one other complication for a brand new deal could possibly be Fox’s just-launched Fox One direct-to-consumer streaming package deal, which at the moment contains entry for pay TV subscribers at no further cost to them over their present invoice. It’s unclear how which may have an effect on the negotiations, or outbursts from Trump and different politicians if Fox Information is unavailable to YouTube TV’s subscribers, which analyst MoffettNathanson just lately estimated at 9.4 million.
YouTube TV’s announcement says that if they will’t attain a deal, then Fox One is an choice for customers, and that it’ll credit score members $10 “…if Fox content material turns into unavailable for an prolonged time frame.”