YouTube TV dropped Univision\u2019s Spanish-language networks late Tuesday, a contentious turn in a simmering dispute that has already drawn scrutiny from members of Congress.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoogle\u2019s YouTube TV has refused to \u2018Do the Right Thing\u2019 and dropped Univision from its platform \u2014 stripping millions of Hispanic viewers of the Spanish-language news, sports, and entertainment they rely on every day,\u201d parent company TelevisaUnivision<\/a> said in a statement, alluding to its campaign slogan. <\/p>\n The outage began about 7 p.m. PDT, shortly before the federal government shutdown <\/a>\u2014 a newsworthy event that Univision journalists have been covering.<\/p>\n The impasse occurred as another deadline loomed in separate contract talks between YouTube TV and NBCUniversal, raising the possibility of a second blackout. Both Univision and NBCUniversal\u2019s distribution agreements were set to expire Tuesday night. But at the deadline, NBCUniversal granted YouTube TV a short-term extension to allow the two sides to continue working on a new deal. <\/p>\n NBCUniversal owns Telemundo, the other major Spanish-language broadcast network. <\/p>\n Prominent members of Congress, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), have demanded answers from Google executives, including Chief Executive Sundar Pichai.<\/p>\n A major sticking point was YouTube TV\u2019s proposal to shift the Univision network from its basic plan, which is available to all subscribers, and put the channel on a more expensive Spanish-language add-on package. <\/p>\n Univision cried foul, saying the switch would amount to an 18% fee increase for its Spanish-language viewers. The move would also dramatically cut the revenue that Univision receives because YouTube and other distributors pay fees based on the number of subscribers that have access to a channel.<\/p>\n \u201cGoogle shouldn\u2019t be abusing its monopoly power by forcing millions of Texans & Americans to pay extra for Spanish-language programming,\u201d Cruz said in a message on X. \u201cThat\u2019s not right & it\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n