Paramount has informed Cord Cutters News that their contract with YouTube TV ends tonight. If a deal is not reached at the last second BET, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Network will go dark tomorrow. This move would also include the removal of removal of Paramount+ and BET+ from YouTube’s Primetime Channels. In total, 20 TV stations are included in this fight, including VH1, TV Land, Smithsonian Channel, Pop, NewsNation, and at least some MyNetwork TV stations.
Update: We have updated the story to reflect the blackout could happen tomorrow.
A Paramount spokesperson provided the following statement:
“We have made a series of fair offers to continue our long-standing relationship with Google’s YouTube TV, providing subscribers access to the full array of Paramount’s entertainment, news and sports programming. Paramount has become an essential partner with a leading portfolio of channels among YouTube TV households, including CBS — America’s most-watched network — and hit franchises like Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, the top entertainment show on cable.
Paramount has a long track record of successfully and amicably renewing partnerships with every major distributor, including several in recent months, and we will continue our efforts to reach a new agreement with YouTube TV.
YouTube TV is attempting to pressure Paramount to agree to one-sided terms, and these non-market demands may lead to an avoidable loss of Paramount’s networks on YouTube TV, in addition to the removal of Paramount+ and BET+ from YouTube’s Primetime Channels, on February 13.”
If the two sides are unable to reach a deal, YouTube TV subscribers could miss out on primetime hits Tracker and Matlock, the Yellowjackets S3 premiere on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, and upcoming CBS Sports events such as March Madness and The Masters.
YouTube TV posted a statement saying, “We’ve been working hard to reach a fair agreement with Paramount that allows us to keep their channels, including CBS and CBS Sports, on YouTube TV without passing on additional costs to our subscribers. Unfortunately, despite our good faith negotiations, we haven’t been successful yet.“ YouTube TV went on to say “Paramount is an important partner for us and as you can imagine, this is not the outcome that we want. We’re still in active conversations with Paramount and are hopeful we can come to an agreement to keep their content available on YouTube TV.”
A memo was sent out to all Paramount employees from the company’s Office of Co-CEOs about the possible removal that you can read here:
Team,
Our commitment to partnership is a true differentiator, including our successful track record of getting major deals done that underscore the demand for our premium portfolio of entertainment, news and sports networks. The reality is, you can’t have a successful video product without Paramount, one of the leading media families in TV viewing.
We also continue to modernize and broaden our relationships with distributors to create mutually beneficial value — driving not only our own business forward but also helping to transform the industry to better serve audiences.
In that same spirit of partnership, Paramount has been negotiating a renewal agreement with Google to provide YouTube TV subscribers with continued access to their favorite premium content from BET, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network and more. Unfortunately, Google is unwilling to agree to reasonable terms consistent with the market, choosing to jeopardize the entertainment experience at the expense of consumers.
As a result, tonight we will begin warning subscribers that Google may drop all Paramount channels, in addition to Paramount+ and BET+ from YouTube Primetime Channels, when our contract expires on February 13. Many of you, your families and friends may be YouTube TV subscribers, so please feel free to share a link to KeepParamount.com, which will be updated with relevant news and information.
We remain hopeful that we can reach an agreement that fairly recognizes the full power of our brands and popular programming. Thank you to everyone for your hard work, support and dedication to our audiences and partners. We’ll update you as this situation develops in the coming days.
Best,
George, Chris, Brian
If YouTube TV and Paramount cannot come to an agreement, you can watch Paramount content on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other compatible devices with Paramount+, BET+, DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Philo, and Pluto TV.
Visit KeepParamount.com for the latest news as this situation continues to unfold.
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