YouTube TV and Sinclair Broadcast Group have agreed a temporary extension. This follows the recent news that YouTube TV was due to drop Fox RSNs from its channel lineup.
YouTube TV recently announced it was unable to strike a deal with Sinclair to keep Fox RSNs. As a result the live TV streaming service was due to drop support for the channels on February 29.
Just ahead of that deadline, the TeamYouTube Twitter account confirmed the two sides had agreed a temporary extension. As a result, YouTube TV subscribers will not lose access as previously expected.
Nothing’s guaranteed, but extension a positive sign
Although the two sides of have agreed an extension, that’s not necessarily a confirmation a deal has been done. While it is a good indicator that a deal might be done, it does only currently confirm that two remain locked in negotiations. Depending on the outcome of those negotiations, subscribers may still lose access to the Fox RSNs.
If a deal between the two is unable to be reached, then this will mark just the latest live TV streaming service to drop Fox RSNs. With both Sling TV and fuboTV having already dropped the channels, and with PlayStation Vue having closed, this would leave AT&T TV NOW and Hulu Live TV as the only services with the affected channels included. Due to this, it is in Sinclair’s interest to agree a deal.
In addition, with YouTube TV having now more than two million subscribers, and some already voicing their intention to leave if Fox RSNs are removed, then YouTube TV also has a refreshed incentive to secure a deal.
However, until one is announced, the latest news is more a reprieve than anything else. Whether one is reached will likely require one side to back down from whatever was holding up a deal being agreed in the first place. It remains to be seen if that will happen.
Source: TeamYouTube/Twitter
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