YouTubeTV and NBC Universal (NBCU)

[Auggie]

Received this email the other day (below). Looks like NBCU is trying to force viewers to sign up for Peacock+ by not renewing their contract with Google (or they're asking for more money). Channels lost would include the NBC Network, MSNBC, NBC Golf, Bravo, Oxygen, USA, SYFY, local sports programming and a few others.

If YouTubeTV drops their price by $10 that would be more than enough to cover the cost of Peacock+, though it does mean one more subscription to manage.

Anyone else getting these messages from YouTubeTV? It's been an outstanding source for what live TV I watch (mostly sports and MCNBC), offers a great DVR service, and their tech -- app, intuitive menu, streaming -- works exceptionally well.

We know that you love watching the wide variety of live sports, news, and shows available to you on YouTube TV. That’s why we have been working so hard to renew our deal with NBCUniversal to continue carrying their content on YouTube TV. However, since our agreement expires on Thursday, September 30, 2021, and we have not yet been able to reach an equitable agreement, we wanted to give you an early heads-up so you understand your choices.
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Our ask is that NBCU treats YouTube TV like any other distributor. In other words, for the duration of our agreement, YouTube TV seeks the same rates that services of similar size get from NBCU so we can continue offering YouTube TV to members at a competitive and fair price.
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If NBCU offers us the equitable terms we are asking for, we will renew our agreement with them. However, if we are unable to reach a deal by Thursday, the NBCU lineup of channels will no longer be available on YouTube TV, and we will decrease our monthly price from $64.99 to $54.99 (while this content remains off our platform).
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At that time, you can sign up for NBCUniversal’s own streaming service, Peacock Premium,* which NBC currently offers starting at $4.99/month to continue watching NBCU content, such as live football.
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While we would love every member to stay with our service, we understand that you may still choose to pause or cancel your membership. We want to make YouTube TV flexible, so members can pause or cancel anytime. We will give you updates as negotiations continue, and going forward, please continue to check this webpage for additional information and updates.
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Please know that NBCU is an important partner for us, and as you can imagine, this is not the outcome that we want. We are still in active conversations with NBCU and are hopeful we can keep their content available on YouTube TV.
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Thanks for your patience and for being a YouTube TV member.
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Sincerely,
The YouTube TV team

[underpants]

1. Does YouTube Tv show network shows Live?

I’m mostly interested in sports. I use an antenna right now and it’s not very consistent.

[Auggie]

2. Yep. All major networks.

Sports:

NFL football on FOX, CBS, NFL Network, ESPN, and NBC (though Sunday Night Football would be a casualty under the new agreement, starting as soon as Sept. 30).

Locally (SF Bay Area): NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants, Warriors), NBC Sports California (Athletics), both casualties (plus the Sharks, I guess). Additionally, NBCSN and NBC Golf. All goners.

Staying for now: ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, and MLB Network. Lots of college games, of course -- football and hoops.

Postseason baseball would be safe since it'll probably appear on a combination of FOX, FS1, FS2, TNT and ESPN.

I watch mostly sports on YouTube, plus MSNBC and Turner Classic Movies (that's it -- the rest sucks). Hulu offers live sports too, but I don't know to what extent. I haven't had it for a few years because the streaming was unreliable. Maybe that's changed now. Guess I'll have to try it.

[underpants]

4. Interesting. Thanks.

Sling has everything but not local channels at least not where I live. A ton of sports are still on networks so I still have to rely on the antenna. Yeah I still have to do the old school get up and adjust it from time to time. I can’t get the local NBC station without setting the antenna on my laptop from work. There’s some weird sort of tunnel with their signal.

[tableturner]

3. Yes, all you local channels.

[underpants]

5. Thanks. I will check it out.

As posted above I still do the antenna adjustment thing.

[Auggie]

6. Much ado about nothing ...

From YouTubeTV (email to me):

We’re thrilled to share that we’ve reached a deal with NBCUniversal to continue carrying the full NBCUniversal portfolio of channels, including their Regional Sports Networks and your local NBC station. That means you won’t lose access to any of their channels, and YouTube TV will continue to offer 85+ networks for $64.99* per month.
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We appreciate NBCUniversal’s willingness to work toward an agreement, and we also appreciate your patience while we negotiated with them on your behalf. Thanks again for being a YouTube TV member.
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Sincerely,
The YouTube TV team

[RandySF]

7. It's a shoert tern agreement.

And MBC/Comcast are being dicks.