The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated a formal investigation into YouTube TV, prompted by allegations that the streaming service discriminates against faith-based programming. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the probe in a letter dated March 7, 2025, addressed to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, raising concerns over the platform’s refusal to carry certain religious channels, specifically citing Great American Family.
The investigation stems from a complaint lodged by Great American Media, which claims that YouTube TV has a hidden policy of marginalizing faith-based and family-friendly content. In his letter, Chairman Carr noted that Great American Family, described as the second fastest-growing channel in cable television, is widely available on other platforms such as Comcast, Cox, Hulu, FuboTV, and DirecTV Stream, yet YouTube TV has consistently declined to carry it. Carr emphasized that while YouTube TV does not have a public-facing policy against faith-based programming, the FCC seeks to determine if discriminatory practices are occurring behind closed doors.
“When Google first launched YouTube TV in 2017, you entered a media marketplace dominated by traditional cable and satellite TV providers,” Carr wrote. “Since that time, the playing field has shifted dramatically, with over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, including YouTube TV… solidifying their own strong positions in the market.” He highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by independent programmers in reaching wider audiences, a problem he believes may be exacerbated by discriminatory practices.
A YouTube spokes person sent Cord Cutters News this statement on the investigation by the FCC “We welcome the opportunity to brief the FCC on YouTube TV’s subscription service and the strategic business decisions we make based on factors like user demand, operational cost and financial terms, and to reiterate that we do not have any policies that prohibit religious content.”
Carr’s letter references Section 616 of the Communications Act, which grants the FCC authority to address discriminatory practices in carriage agreements between traditional multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and video programming vendors. Although these rules currently apply to traditional television, the FCC has been exploring whether to extend similar regulations to virtual MVPDs like YouTube TV. Carr pointed to multiple open FCC proceedings on this matter, suggesting that the outcome of this investigation could shape future regulatory frameworks.
The investigation also touches on broader concerns about censorship in the digital age. Carr noted that the allegations against YouTube TV come at a time when “American public discourse has experienced an unprecedented surge in censorship,” with tech companies increasingly accused of silencing individuals for expressing their views online. This context, he argued, makes it imperative to investigate whether YouTube TV’s carriage decisions are influenced by viewpoint-based discrimination.
The FCC’s authority over virtual MVPDs like YouTube TV is limited compared to traditional cable distributors, a point Carr acknowledged in his letter. Critics of the investigation argue that even if Section 616 were extended to virtual MVPDs, it would primarily address anticompetitive practices—such as refusing to carry a channel that competes with a provider’s own affiliates—rather than mandating the inclusion of specific types of content. Some legal experts suggest that YouTube TV’s decisions about its programming lineup may be protected as a form of editorial discretion, akin to free speech rights for private companies.
Nevertheless, Carr has requested that Google and YouTube brief FCC staff on the role of virtual MVPDs in the modern media marketplace and YouTube TV’s carriage negotiation processes, specifically addressing the potential for viewpoint-based discrimination. The companies have until March 11, 2025, to schedule this briefing.
This investigation adds to a series of recent FCC actions under Carr’s leadership, which have included probes into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices at companies like Comcast and NBCUniversal, as well as inquiries into alleged media bias. Carr, a known critic of Big Tech, has previously called for dismantling what he describes as a “censorship cartel” among major tech platforms, a stance that aligns with broader conservative concerns about tech companies’ influence over public discourse.
The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the streaming industry and the regulatory landscape for virtual MVPDs. It also raises questions about the balance between a platform’s right to curate content and the need to ensure fair access for diverse voices, particularly those representing religious communities. As the FCC delves deeper, the tech and media sectors will be watching closely to see how this inquiry shapes the future of digital content distribution.
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We updated our story with a statement from YouTube.