C-SPAN secures streaming deal with YouTube TV and Hulu

In the United States, C-SPAN announced a new agreement in early fall 2025 to have its three public affairs networks included in the live television packages of YouTube TV and Hulu. This deal marked the end of a long-standing dispute that severely impacted C-SPAN's revenues in the evolving landscape of cord-cutting. With many viewers shifting to streaming services, C-SPAN was losing out on substantial audience engagement and financial support, as its traditional viewership had declined from around 100 million homes to about 70 million. This agreement came after Congress intervened, urging the parent companies of both streaming platforms to uphold the inclusion of C-SPAN programming due to its critical role in broadcasting governmental sessions and hearings. As a result of this new arrangement, both streaming services will pay C-SPAN a fee comparable to that of traditional cable and satellite distributors, approximately 87 cents per subscriber annually. Additionally, C-SPAN has confirmed that it will maintain its no-advertising policy across all televised content, ensuring viewers receive uninterrupted coverage of political events and discussions. Notably, this deal is expected to expand C-SPAN's accessibility to millions of viewers previously unable to access its broadcast content, enhancing public understanding of the political process. Sam Feist, CEO of C-SPAN, expressed pride in the agreement, emphasizing its potential to offer unfiltered insights into the nation's political workings to a broader audience, particularly in a media landscape increasingly dominated by digital streaming. Over recent years, C-SPAN's revenues have experienced a stark decline, dropping from nearly $64 million in 2019 to $45.4 million in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for the network to adapt to changing viewer habits and maintain its relevance in the public discourse.