Paramount Global is notifying YouTube TV subscribers that channels including CBS, BET, Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon could go dark on the service as soon as Thursday, Feb. 13.
Other Paramount channels in danger of being removed from YouTube TV include CBS Sports Network and Paramount Network. In addition, the dispute threatens to pull Paramount+ and BET+ from YouTube TV Primetime Channels.
“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,” a Paramount spokesperson said.
In a blog post, YouTube said in part, “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.”
The carriage dispute has flared up after YouTube TV hiked its baseline price by $10/month effective Jan. 13, 2025 — rising from $72.99 to $82.99 per month.
According to the Paramount rep, “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,” a Paramount rep said in a statement. “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 claimed it has a “long track record of successfully and amicably renewing partnerships with every major distributor” and that it will “continue our efforts to reach a new agreement with YouTube TV.”
More to come.