Google, NBCUniversal Deadlocked Over YouTube TV Rates

A standoff between Google and NBCUniversal could leave fans of the NFL, golf, and other sports scrambling for alternative ways to watch as soon as this weekend.

The two sides have been unable to agree on the price Google should pay going forward to continue carrying NBCUniversal’s content on YouTube TV. 

The Comcast-owned network’s channels could be removed from YouTube TV if a new deal is not reached when the current one expires Thursday. That includes NBC, CNBC, GOLF Channel, and its regional sports networks.

• Google said it would lower the monthly cost of YouTube TV from $64.99 to $54.99 while NBCUniversal’s content is unavailable on the platform. The service has over 3 million subscribers. 
• Google’s parent Alphabet earned $7 billion from YouTube ads in the second quarter but does not separately report YouTube TV’s revenue.
• NBCU’s Peacock had 54 million subscribers as of June 30, though only around 3 million are believed to be paying for a $9.99 per-month ad-free subscription. The service lost $363 million in the second quarter, with $122 million in revenue.

NBCUniversal has sought to put consumer pressure on Google: The network ran banners on its YouTube TV NFL broadcasts and other channels on Sunday, directing customers to a website to contact Google over the dispute.