The carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Fox comes just days before a highly anticipated college football matchup.
WASHINGTON — Football fans who rely on YouTube TV to watch NFL games may need to search for an alternative soon.
In a statement released by YouTube on Sunday, the streaming service says that it is currently in a negotiations dispute with Fox, right as the NFL and college football seasons are about to kick off.
“Fox is asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive,” the statement said. “Our priority is to reach a deal that reflects the value of their content and is fair for both sides without passing on additional costs to our subscribers.”
YouTube TV said if it is unable to reach an agreement with Fox by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, a little over a week before the official start of the NFL season, Fox channels, including Fox Sports, Business and News, would no longer be available on its service.
While the first NFL game on Fox wouldn’t air until Sunday, Sept. 7, the network is scheduled to air this Saturday’s Ohio State-Texas game on Fox’s Big Noon kickoff.
Fox content that is saved in a user’s library would also become unavailable.
YouTube TV says it is “working diligently with the team at Fox to reach an agreement.” The streaming service added that it will also provide subscribers with a $10 credit “if Fox content becomes unavailable for an extended period of time.”
The dispute statement comes less than a week after Fox launched its streaming service, Fox One, on Aug. 21. YouTube says customers can sign up for that service to access Fox sports and shows until the negotiations are resolved.
YouTube TV, launched in 2017, has amassed over 8 million subscribers since its launch, quickly becoming a top-rated live TV provider in the U.S.
“We value our partnership with Fox and will continue our discussions toward reaching a deal that keeps their content on YouTube TV,” the statement says.