Update on October 2 at 1:35 p.m. ET: YouTube TV and NBC today announced a new deal that allows NBC channels to stay on YouTube TV. “We are very pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement to continue offering the entire NBCUniversal portfolio of channels. That means you won’t lose access to any of their channels and YouTube TV will continue to offer 85+ networks for $ 64.99, “Youtube called. NBC confirmed the deal in a statement to Ars.
YouTube confirmed to Ars that the new contract was a multi-year contract, but none of the companies disclosed the exact length. The sides agreed beforehand on a short extension of the old contract in order to avoid a blackout, and were then able to conclude a new canal transport contract.
The new deal doesn’t require YouTube TV to bundle NBC’s Peacock online service, an NBC source confirmed to Ars. NBC previously looked for a YouTube TV / Peacock package but dropped the demand earlier in the negotiations. The NBC source said that Peacock was not an “important part” of the negotiations with YouTube TV, but that Peacock is “a part of the conversation” in all negotiations with partners.
Original story as published October 1st:
YouTube TV and NBCUniversal are at odds over negotiations on a new deal that would allow NBC channels to continue using Google’s own streaming service. The existing contract was due to expire at 12 p.m. ET today, but the companies agreed on a brief extension that will prevent a blackout for now.
“NBCUniversal and YouTube TV have agreed to a short extension while the parties continue their talks. NBCUniversal won’t go dark on YouTube TV at midnight east tonight, “NBC said in a statement made available to Ars last night.
NBC didn’t want to say how long the renewal was going to take, and YouTube TV owner Google didn’t comment. About 15 NBC-owned channels and eight regional NBC sports networks could still go dark on YouTube TV if the companies don’t agree on terms before the renewal expires.
NBC’s unusual peacock demand
Channel failures and controversial promotion negotiations have long been part of the TV industry, although some things have changed as online streaming services like YouTube TV compete with cable and satellite. Comcast’s NBCUniversal has come up with an unusual tactic in this round of negotiations and demands that YouTube TV bundle Peacock, NBC’s own streaming service. NBC has struggled to convince individual subscribers to buy the $ 5 or $ 10 premium tiers of Peacock, and the company is “using its old wholesale bundling business model to drive sales,” according to the investor research firm LightShed Partners wrote.
Peacock is unlikely to be in a definitive contract between NBC and YouTube TV, as we reported on Tuesday. An NBC source familiar with the negotiations told Ars at the time that NBC’s Peacock request was “out of the negotiation” – but the source wouldn’t definitely say NBC wouldn’t try to get Peacock back on the table bring. Google had objected, saying that a bunch would force subscribers to pay twice for the same program as Peacock has a lot of the same content as NBC channels.
Even if Peacock doesn’t play along, the sides still have to agree on a total price and other considerations. YouTube TV is aiming for a most favored nation clause and says it wants contractual safeguards that ensure YouTube TV doesn’t pay more for NBC channels than similarly sized TV providers. Google called It will cut YouTube TV’s monthly price from $ 65 to $ 55 when NBC channels are blacked out, and advises that customers can sign up for Peacock separately.
NBC claimed it was only seeking “fair prices from Google” and tried to put pressure on the company by offering a “You need channels“Website warning users,“ YouTube TV may drop your favorite channels. ”NBC’s website encourages users to complain on YouTube TV and consider switching to other TV providers.
This article was previously published on Source link
