YouTube TV reaches new deal to keep Paramount content
After warnings that Paramount content was about to disappear from Google’s pay TV service YouTube TV, the companies announced late Saturday that they’d reached a deal that averts any disruption to channel availability.
Those announcements didn’t include many specifics about the agreement, but a statement from a Paramount spokesperson said it includes “an expanded streaming relationship.” So not only will YouTube Primetime Channels continue to offer streaming services Paramount+, with Showtime and BET+ as add-ons, but Google also gets “the right to make Paramount+ available to qualifying YouTube TV customers.”
YouTube TV is no stranger to high-profile contract disputes with media companies, including Disney. In its own announcement, Google said, “We’re happy to share that we’ve reached a deal to continue carrying Paramount channels, including CBS, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon and more … To our subscribers, we appreciate your patience while we negotiated on your behalf.”
The company had warned in an earlier blog post that all Paramount content, including CBS and CBS Sports, would disappear from YouTube TV on February 13. There was a short-term deadline extension when the companies appeared to be close to a deal.