YouTube and Fox Corp. announced they reached a deal providing for continued carriage on YouTube TV of Fox News, local Fox stations and other channels.
A YouTube rep said, “We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Fox to keep their content on YouTube TV, preserve the value of our service for our subscribers and offer more flexibility in the future. This means that Fox channels, including the Fox Broadcast Network, Fox News, and Fox Sports, remain available for our subscribers along with 100+ channels and football fans will not miss any of the action this weekend.”
Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal covers the full portfolio of Fox networks, including Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Weather, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes, Big Ten Network, the Fox network and all Fox local stations.
On Wednesday, the parties agreed to a short-term extension to their previous contract in order to continue renewal talks. The previous YouTube TV carriage agreement with Fox Corp. had been set to expire Wednesday (Aug. 27) at 5 p.m. ET.
Such contract disputes have been a regular feature of the pay-TV business for decades. Fox Corp. had claimed that Google, YouTube’s parent, had proposed “terms that are out of step with the marketplace” — indicating the fight hinges on Fox Corp. seeking higher programming fees from the internet giant.
Just hours before the prior YouTube TV-Fox Corp. agreement was due to end, YouTube announced a deal with Herring Networks to carry right-wing outlet OAN on YouTube TV starting in the fourth quarter of 2025. The addition of unabashedly pro-Trump OAN to YouTube TV may have been a bargaining tactic — that is, an attempt to persuade Fox Corp. to agree to renewal terms — or it could have been aimed at softening the blow for MAGA supporters if Fox News went dark on YouTube TV.
Fox Corp. on Monday began warning viewers of a potential blackout of its channels on YouTube TV. The company called out big upcoming sporting events in its messaging: “YouTube TV customers could be deprived of some of the fall’s biggest television sporting events, including NFL on Fox, College Football on Fox, FS1 and Big Ten Network, and MLB on Fox and FS1,” the company says on keepfox.com, a special-purpose website set up for the contract fight.
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In a previous message to subscribers, YouTube TV said it was “actively negotiating to reach a fair deal for both sides, as well as our subscribers.” YouTube TV subs would have been eligible to receive a $10 credit to if Fox’s content because unavailable “for an extended period of time” as a result of the contract fight.
Fox Corp. channels available on YouTube TV are: Fox local stations; BTN; Fox Business; Fox Deportes; Fox News; Fox Soccer Plus; Fox Soul; Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and Fox Sports 2 (FS2); Fox Weather; KTVU Plus; and LiveNow from Fox. In addition, the companies’ agreement covers Fox Nation as an optional add-on to YouTube TV for $7.99 per month.
Fox Television Stations owns and operates 29 full-power broadcast television stations in the U.S., of which 18 are affiliated with the Fox network. The company has affiliation agreements with 227 other local stations and negotiates retransmission rights for those with YouTube TV and other virtual pay-TV providers.
YouTube TV had an estimated 9.5 million customers as of the end of 2024, according to research firm MoffettNathanson. That makes it the biggest internet-delivered pay TV provider in the U.S. In December, YouTube hiked the price of its base subscription plan by 14%, raising it from $72.99 to $82.99 per month, because of “the rising cost of content,” according to YouTube.
YouTube TV has clashed in contract disputes with programmers before. In February 2025, YouTube TV and Paramount Global (now Paramount Skydance) renewed their agreement to carry CBS stations nationwide and more than 20 other channels after contentious deal talks became public.
In 2021, YouTube TV subscribers experienced a two-day blackout of Disney channels before the parties reached an agreement. That same year, NBCUniversal’s distribution deal for YouTube TV expired but the companies reached a short-term extension before inking a long-term pact.
Pictured above: Fox News hosts Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier
From Variety US