A potential blackout affecting several popular channels on YouTube TV has been temporarily averted. Paramount Global and YouTube TV, locked in a dispute over retransmission fees, reached a last-minute agreement to extend the availability of channels such as CBS, MTV, BET, and the Paramount Network. The initial deadline was February 13th, 2024, at 11 p.m. eastern.
While the channels remain available for now, the extension's duration remains unclear. Negotiations are ongoing, with both sides attempting to reach a deal to prevent any future disruptions. The disagreement centers around the fees YouTube TV pays to carry Paramount's channels. YouTube TV likely seeks to minimize costs amidst declining linear TV viewership, even within the streaming vMVPD space. Meanwhile, Paramount aims to uphold the value of its channels.
If a blackout does eventually occur, it's anticipated that CBS-affiliated stations not directly owned by CBS might continue to be accessible to users in specific markets.