Google and NBCUniversal reach multi-year agreement for YouTube TV

You don’t have to worry about losing access to Sunday Night Football and NBCUniversal’s other sports offerings and shows on YouTube TV over the next few years. The broadcaster has reached a multi-year agreement with Google to keep its programs on the streaming service after they were almost pulled by the end of the companies’ original deal. YouTube TV said at the time that NBC was asking it “to pay more than what they charge consumers for the same content on Peacock, which would mean less flexibility and higher prices for [its own] subscribers.” They were able to agree on a last-minute “short-term extension” while working on a more permanent deal to prevent the removal of NBCUniversal’s offerings.

The multi-year commitment will give you access to NBCUniversal’s portfolio, including NBC, Telemundo, Bravo, CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, Oxygen True Crime, MSNBC, USA, Syfy and Universo. You’ll also get access to the relaunched NBC Sports Network, the cable channel the broadcaster shut down in 2021, later this fall. “NBCSN will complement the prominent sports properties presented year-round on the NBC broadcast network,” the broadcaster announced. In addition, you will be able to get Peacock in the coming months as an add-on subscription through YouTube Primetime Channels.

Movies and shows from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will continue to be available to buy or rent from Google TV and YouTube TV, as well. And Peacock app will continue to be available via Google Play. “This deal builds on our long-standing partnership with NBCU while addressing the evolving media landscape and recognizing the importance of making content available where and how viewers want to watch it,” said Justin Connolly, Youtube’s Global Head of Media & Sports.

While Google and YouTube TV were able to reach an agreement with NBCUniversal, they failed to reach a similar deal with Univision, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the US. Google said that Univision’s “current demands aren’t supported by [its] performance on YouTube TV over the last four years.” TelevisaUnivision, its parent company, warned customers in early September that YouTube TV wanted to remove its programs from its standard package and to charge viewers an extra $15 to be able to access its network.