NBCUniversal and YouTube TV are not exactly playing ball.
The programmer and the vMVPD (virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributor) are sparring over carriage fees, with NBCU saying YouTube TV (owned by Google) is demanding absurdly cheap rates to carry its programming, and YouTube TV balking at the price tag for Peacock: NBCU is charging YouTube TV “more than what they charge consumers for the same content,” the service says.
The final whistle for an agreement to be reached is Tuesday, Sept. 30. Should a deal not be reached by then, NBCU will take its ball — in this case, content — and go home.
If you’re wondering what’s up with all the sports references, well, there’s good reason. Should NBCU programming be blacked out on YouTube TV, users of the popular cord-cutter platform could miss out on some very in-demand sports programming, like Notre Dame football (vs. Arkansas this Saturday), the NFL’s Sunday Night Football game, which is primetime TV’s most-watched program, and this weekend’s Ryder Cup golf event. Should the blackout last “for an extended period of time,” YouTube says it will offer subscribers a $10 credit. Should the blackout last for three weeks, YouTube TV users would also miss the highly anticipated return of the NBA on NBC (and Peacock).
With five days left to the deadline, which could always be extended for good-faith negotiations, shots are being lobbed by both sides.
“Google, with its $3 trillion market cap, already controls what Americans see online through search and ads — now it wants to control what we watch,” a spokesperson for NBC said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter.
Yikes — so much for that whole “good faith” thing. NBCU parent Comcast’s market cap is about $117 billion, or 25 times smaller than Google’s.
“YouTube TV has refused the best rates and terms in the market, demanding preferential treatment and seeking an unfair advantage over competitors to dominate the video marketplace — all under the false pretense of fighting for the consumer,” the statement continues. “The result: YouTube TV customers will lose access to NBCUniversal’s premium programming, including Sunday Night Football, NBA, Big Ten Football, WWE, Premier League, Saturday Night Live, The Voice, The Real Housewives, and much more.”
This weekend’s Sunday Night Football game will see Micah Parsons return to Dallas as his new team, the Green Bay Packers, take on his old one, the Cowboys.
“NBCUniversal is asking us to pay more than what they charge consumers for the same content on Peacock, which would mean less flexibility and higher prices for our subscribers,” a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement shared with THR. “We are committed to working with NBCUniversal to reach a fair deal for both sides ahead of our current agreement expiring on Sept. 30. If their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we’ll offer our subscribers a $10 credit.”