UPDATE: 2025/08/29 12:19 EST BY CHRIS THOMAS
YouTube TV confirms deal
Contract negotiations have apparently succeeded, as 9to5Google reports that customers have received the following email:
We’re happy to share that we’ve reached a deal with Fox to keep their content on YouTube TV. That means you will continue to have access to Fox channels, including the Fox Broadcast Network, Fox News, and Fox Sports, and any Fox recordings in your Library. If you’re subscribed to add-ons like Spanish Plus, 4K Plus, Sports Plus, and Fox Nation, access to that content also remains uninterrupted.
We’re pleased to have reached a deal that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers. That said, we know potential disruptions are frustrating, even when they don’t occur, so we thank you for your patience. As a reminder, family managers have the ability to pause or cancel anytime.
YouTube TV almost gave Fox networks the axe amid strained relationships as the renewal deadline came down to the wire. Happily for viewers of Fox Sports, Business, and News networks — including fans of local sports broadcasting — the negotiations have been extended, opening the door for a longer-term deal in the near future, as 9to5Google reports.
Fox on YouTube TV lives to see another day
Both sides are hopeful for a new deal
The update came two days after outlets began to sound the alarm on Fox’s potential departure from the popular streaming platform. “We have reached a short-term extension with Fox to prevent disruption to YouTube TV subscribers as we continue to work on a new agreement,” YouTube said in a blog post. “We are committed to advocating on behalf of our subscribers as we work toward a fair deal and will keep you updated on our progress.”
The existing agreement was set to expire Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET. A Fox Corp. spokesperson confirmed the extension but didn’t elaborate on the timeline. The standoff reportedly centers on programming fees, with Fox accusing Google of offering “terms that are out of step with the marketplace.”
Fox has already been leaning on customers to pressure YouTube, warning that a blackout could strip subscribers of NFL, MLB, and college football broadcasts this fall. The company even launched a dedicated site, keepfox.com, to rally viewers.
For now, nothing changes for subscribers. If Fox channels do go dark, YouTube says affected customers will be eligible for a $10 monthly credit. But unless the two sides find common ground soon, YouTube TV users could be caught in the crossfire of another messy carriage dispute — a familiar headache in the streaming era.
