YouTube TV and Fox face blackout in college football season dispute
- The current carriage agreement between YouTube TV and Fox is nearing its renewal deadline.
- Negotiations have been contentious due to differing views on appropriate carriage fees.
- If no agreement is reached, millions of subscribers may lose access to Fox programming, especially during college football season.
In the United States, YouTube TV is facing a potential blackout of Fox channels, including Fox Sports and Fox News, due to a contract dispute over carriage fees. The deadline for negotiations was set for 5 p.m. EDT on August 27, 2025, with warnings from both parties about the implications for millions of subscribers. YouTube TV has indicated that Fox is demanding payments that far exceed what other networks with similar content receive, creating an impasse. The platform has offered its subscribers a $10 credit should Fox programs become unavailable for an extended period due to this standoff. For its part, Fox criticized YouTube TV's tactics as exploiting its market influence and expressed disappointment in the negotiation process. As college football season approached, the stakes felt particularly high, not only for fans but also for advertisers who rely on these platforms to reach audiences. The negotiations have reflected a broader trend within the media landscape, where streaming services and content providers often clash over financial agreements, potentially affecting viewership and accessibility for consumers.