UPDATE: YouTube TV and Paramount announced “a short-term extension” on Thursday, Feb. 13, that will keep the channels available to subscribers as the two sides continue negotiating a longer term deal.
Paramount properties, including CBS and CBS Sports Network, “will likely become unavailable” on YouTube TV starting Thursday, the digital cable service said in a message to customers Wednesday.
The carriage dispute comes only weeks before Paramount begins airing March Madness—one of its most popular offerings outside of football season. If the blackout extends far enough, the missing palette could include seven men’s basketball conference championship games and numerous NCAA Tournament matchups leading up to the Final Four and ultimately the national championship on April 7. CBS broadcasts weekend action at the Masters golf tournament a few days later.
CBS will also cover the conclusion of the 2025 Genesis Invitational this weekend.
In the past, YouTube TV has resolved network disputes within days, and such a resolution is possible here, too. Google and Disney ended a standoff two days after ESPN and other channels went dark in 2021, for example.
“It’s our goal to restore Paramount content,” YouTube TV said in its message to subscribers. It is promising an $8 credit if Paramount content is unavailable “for an extended period of time”—notably the same amount it costs for a month of access to the Paramount+ streaming service. The linear feed of CBS Sports Network, which will show several conference title contests, is not available through Paramount+, however.
“Paramount has been negotiating a renewal agreement with Google to provide YouTube TV subscribers with continued access to their favorite premium content from BET, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network and more,” Paramount executives wrote in a memo to employees, according to Deadline. “Unfortunately, Google is unwilling to agree to reasonable terms consistent with the market, choosing to jeopardize the entertainment experience at the expense of consumers.”
A Paramount representative told Variety that the company would “continue our efforts to reach a new agreement with YouTube TV.” Paramount is encouraging YouTube TV users to contact the service or express their thoughts via X in the meantime. CBS Sports did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
“We’ve been working hard to reach a fair agreement with Paramount that allows us to keep their channels, including CBS and CBS Sports, on YouTube TV without passing on additional costs to our subscribers,” YouTube wrote in a blog post. “Unfortunately, despite our good faith negotiations, we haven’t been successful yet.”
The carriage battle comes at a critical juncture for both companies. Paramount wrote down the value of its cable networks by nearly $6 billion last summer and cut 15% of its U.S. workforce as it continued a still-incomplete attempt to merge with Skydance Media. It will announce its fourth quarter financial results on Feb. 27. Paramount recently announced a new multi-year carriage agreement with Comcast.
“YouTube TV is attempting to pressure Paramount to agree to one-sided terms, and these non-market demands may lead to an avoidable loss,” a Paramount spokesperson said.
YouTube TV, meanwhile, has grown to become one of the country’s largest cable providers in recent years, largely by attracting sports fans with NFL Sunday Ticket rights and unique streaming features. However, the service received criticism in December when it announced a $10 monthly price increase, to $83. YouTube TV also faces growing competition from “skinny bundle” alternatives geared toward sports consumers.
If Google and Paramount are unable to come to terms, it could become more difficult for fans to find a single online cable service that offered access to all March Madness action across CBS, TNT Sports, and ESPN channels. DirecTV’s recently launched MySports bundle does not include nationwide access to CBS, while Fubo does not carry Warner Bros. Discovery networks. Disney-owned Hulu + Live TV currently offers all the necessary channels in its lineup, with a starting price of $83/month.
