YouTube TV and NBCUniversal Face Imminent Programming Blackout
A potential disruption to YouTube TV service looms as negotiations between the streaming platform and NBCUniversal reach a critical juncture. As of September 30, 2025, the two companies have failed to reach a new agreement, raising the possibility that NBCUniversal channels – including the NBC broadcast network, MSNBC, CNBC, and various sports networks – could be removed from YouTube TV as early as tomorrow.
The dispute centers on the financial terms of a renewal agreement. Currently,YouTube TV pays NBCUniversal $10 per subscriber monthly for access to its channels,according to media research firm LightShed. Concurrently, NBCUniversal receives payments from YouTube to promote Peacock subscriptions.
Though,the core disagreement extends beyond simple fees. NBCUniversal argues that Google, YouTube’s parent company, is leveraging its considerable market capitalization ($3 trillion) to exert undue control over content distribution and unfairly disadvantage competitors. An NBCUniversal spokesperson stated that YouTube TV is “demanding preferential treatment and seeking an unfair advantage…under the false pretense of fighting for the consumer.” They accuse Google of attempting to expand its dominance from online search and advertising into television programming.
YouTube counters that NBCUniversal is seeking terms that would require them to pay more for the same content than consumers pay for access through Peacock, nbcuniversal’s own streaming service. This, YouTube argues, would translate to higher prices and less flexibility for YouTube TV subscribers.
The stakes are notably uneven. LightShed analysts point out that YouTube and Google would likely weather the loss of YouTube TV without significant financial impact. Conversely, a 15% reduction in video subscribers for NBCUniversal would be considerably more damaging. However, the analysts also acknowledge YouTube TV’s strategic importance in driving viewership of YouTube content on television screens, bolstering the core YouTube advertising business.
NBCUniversal has begun proactively warning viewers of the potential blackout, displaying a banner on its website directing users to information emphasizing its history of triumphant carriage agreements.
This marks YouTube TV’s second major carriage dispute in recent months. In August, the platform successfully reached a last-minute agreement with Fox, averting a blackout of Fox programming, including Fox News and Fox Sports. That temporary agreement, however, lasted only one day while a longer-term solution was finalized.
The timing of the potential NBCUniversal blackout is particularly impactful, coinciding with a weekend of significant college football games, including Notre Dame versus Boise State and Ohio State versus Minnesota. “Sunday Night Football,” featuring the New England Patriots versus the Buffalo bills, is also at risk.
While a short-term extension remains possible, mirroring the approach taken with Fox, the future of NBCUniversal programming on YouTube TV remains uncertain with less than 24 hours remaining before a potential service interruption.
(Photo: Robbie jay Barratt / AMA via Getty Images)
