Google's YouTube TV is on the verge of dropping all Fox channels for its millions of subscribers this Wednesday if a new distribution deal isn't reached. The public dispute puts major college football and NFL games at risk, with both sides blaming each other for demanding unfair terms.
The blame game: In a public blog post, YouTube accused Fox of asking for "payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive." Fox fired back, claiming Google "continually exploits its outsized influence by proposing terms that are out of step with the marketplace."
Fans in the crossfire: The timing puts viewers in a bind, with the potential blackout starting just days before the college football season's marquee Week 1 showdown between No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State. The dispute also looms over the start of the NFL regular season, where Fox is a primary broadcaster.
An ironic assist: As a concession, YouTube has offered subscribers a $10 credit if the channels go dark. In a notable twist, the company is also pointing customers toward Fox’s own new streaming service, FOX One, as a workaround to watch the content they might lose.
This public standoff is a familiar tactic in the streaming era, where the immense value of live sports gives content owners like Fox powerful leverage over distributors like YouTube—leaving millions of fans caught in the middle. But as the streaming wars heat up, rivals aren't standing still; Hulu is launching a new football docuseries with legendary coach Bill Belichick. The dispute also highlights YouTube's growing power, as it recently overtook Netflix in audience engagement.
