Google’s YouTube TV has dropped Univision‘s native TV stations — together with different TelevisaUnivision-owned networks — after the 2 sides failed to return to phrases on a contract renewal Tuesday.
If TelevisaUnivision’s programming stays unavailable to YouTube TV subs for an “prolonged time period, we’ll provide our Spanish Base subscribers a $6 credit score or refund relying in your billing supplier,” Google stated in a message to the pay-TV service’s prospects.
Google individually Tuesday was squaring off with NBCUniversal in contract renewal talks for YouTube TV. NBCU’s present YouTube TV deal additionally is about to run out Sept. 30. As of this writing, talks between NBCU and Google proceed.
Univision is the largest Spanish-language broadcaster within the U.S., with 59 owned and/or operated stations.
“TelevisaUnivision has over 160 million subscribers and billions of views throughout YouTube, the place they generate advert income from their content material,” a YouTube spokesperson stated in a press release. “On our paid stay TV subscription service, YouTube TV, nonetheless, TelevisaUnivision solely represents a tiny fraction of general consumption. Since we have now not reached a brand new settlement with them, their content material is now not obtainable on YouTube TV.”
The YouTube spokesperson added, “We encourage viewers to proceed watching TelevisaUnivision’s content material on their YouTube channels or on their streaming platform, ViX.”
In response, TelevisaUnivision stated in a press release: “Google’s YouTube TV has refused to ‘Do the Proper Factor’ and dropped Univision from its platform — stripping thousands and thousands of Hispanic viewers of the Spanish-language information, sports activities, and leisure they depend on every single day. Google’s actions are particularly tone-deaf and egregious on the eve of a possible authorities shutdown, disregarding the appeals of presidency officers and Hispanic organizations who urged them to maintain Univision on the primary bundle.”
“So as to add insult to harm, YouTube TV selected to take this step throughout Hispanic Heritage Month — an act that’s deeply insensitive and offensive,” TelevisaUnivision’s assertion continued. “Google has made an unlucky mistake that’s simply reversible, and we’re all the time open to discovering constructive methods for Hispanics to regain entry to their trusted and demanding content material. We stay steadfast in advocating for our viewers and guaranteeing that YouTube TV subscribers know they’ve many choices to proceed watching Univision’s programming by way of different suppliers.”
Univision previously claimed that YouTube TV deliberate to take away Univision from its fundamental bundle and “will power Hispanics to pay one other $15 a month – an 18 % ‘Hispanic Tax’ – to entry Univision.” TelevisaUnivision alleged that Google’s transfer to place Univision on a individually priced add-on tier was “discriminatory and an abuse of its market energy.” A Google rep disputed the suggestion it was being “discriminatory” within the matter, saying that carriage renewal choices for YouTube “are primarily based on viewer consumption and pricing, and any suggestion on the contrary is fake.”
The dispute between Google and TelevisaUnivision captured the eye of lawmakers together with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). “Google/YouTube shouldn’t put @Univision and @Telemundo behind a paywall,” Cruz wrote in a publish Tuesday morning on X. “Google shouldn’t be abusing its monopoly energy by forcing thousands and thousands of Texans & People to pay further for Spanish-language programming. That’s not proper & it’s not truthful.” (All of YouTube TV is “behind a paywall”; the bottom bundle is $82.99/month. Cruz is referring to YouTube TV’s proposal to cost an extra payment for Spanish-language broadcast nets together with Univision and NBCU’s Telemundo.)
Along with dropping Univision stations, YouTube TV additionally has pulled TelevisaUnivision channels UniMas, TUDN, Galavision, FOROtv, De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Telehit, Telehit Música and tlnovelas.
YouTube TV additionally stated that prospects’ DVR recordings of Univision and different TelevisaUnivision content material have been eliminated.
