Google-owned YouTube and Fox reach 'temporary' deal to avoid channel blackout

Google-owned YouTube and Fox said they have reached a temporary deal that will keep Fox channels available to YouTube TV subscribers, reports Reuters. The extension gives both sides more time to negotiate a new long-term distribution agreement. The development comes amidst the dispute on the cost of carrying Fox's content. YouTube TV previously stated that Fox is "asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive."


As part of the temporary deal, Fox News, Fox Sports and other Fox channels will remain available to YouTube users. It comes at a time when the college football season is about to begin, with a major game on Saturday between top-ranked Texas and national champion Ohio State. Fox is set to broadcast the matchup, and without a deal, YouTube TV subscribers risked missing the game.


Dispute between YouTube and Fox

In a blog post earlier this week, YouTube said Fox was asking for fees “far higher than what comparable providers receive.” The company warned that Fox channels would go dark if no agreement was reached by Wednesday evening.


Fox countered, accusing Google of using its “outsized influence” to push terms that were “out of step with the marketplace.”


The dispute drew the attention of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, who urged the companies to resolve the matter. “Millions of Americans are relying on YouTube to resolve this dispute so they can keep watching the news and sports they want—including this week’s Big Game: Texas @ Ohio State,” Carr wrote on X. “Get a deal done Google!”