Offended YouTube TV clients threatened to cancel their subscriptions after the streaming service stated it was dropping CBS — which broadcasts NFL video games and different reside sports activities.
The Google-owned firm, which expenses $83 a month for its fundamental plan, introduced on Wednesday that it was at an deadlock in negotiations with CBS father or mother Paramount World over the renewal of an settlement on carriage charges for its linear tv properties.
Regardless of the NFL season coming to an finish with final Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl, some YouTube subscribers vowed to modify to rival streamer FuboTV, which prices $95 a month for its fundamental plan, to get their sports activities repair.
“You’ve gone from being the very best stream supplier to changing into one of many worst,” wrote X consumer Jason Morris, who famous that YouTube TV has dropped regional sports activities networks in addition to MLB Community “all whereas elevating your worth considerably over the previous few years.”
“FuboTV right here I come.”
One other X consumer, Erin Mays, wrote: “I solely have reside TV for sports activities, and Purdue basketball is on CBS the subsequent two Saturdays. If this isn’t fastened by Saturday I’ll cancel,”
When a YouTube TV subscriber inquired on X as as to if the service would scale back its month-to-month charges, the corporate replied: “In the intervening time, we’ve got no plans to decrease the worth of YouTube TV and our most important objective is to maintain Paramount content material on the platform.”
The Put up has sought remark from Google and Paramount.
The streamer stated that it had been “working laborious to succeed in a good settlement with Paramount that enables us to maintain their channels, together with CBS and CBS Sports activities, on YouTube TV with out passing on extra prices to our subscribers.”
“Sadly, regardless of our good religion negotiations, we haven’t been profitable but.”
Along with its NFL protection, CBS broadcasts NCAA soccer and basketball, together with the NCAA Males’s Basketball Match, in addition to main golf tournaments like The Masters and the PGA Championship.
YouTube TV insisted that it was nonetheless “actively negotiating with Paramount” on a deal that may permit it to proceed carrying its networks on its platform.
“If we are able to’t attain an settlement and their content material is unavailable for an prolonged time period, we’ll supply subscribers an $8 credit score,” the corporate stated.
YouTube TV subscribers have the choice of paying an extra $7.99 per thirty days for the Paramount+ streaming service, which incorporates the channels which might be being booted from YouTube TV’s fundamental tier.
“Paramount is a crucial associate for us and as you may think about, this isn’t the result that we wish,” YouTube TV stated.