Fox News, local TV stations and other Fox Corp.-owned networks will remain on YouTube TV — for now — after the parties agreed to a short-term extension to their previous contract, as talks on a renewal continue.
“We have reached a short-term extension with Fox to prevent disruption to YouTube TV subscribers as we continue to work on a new agreement,” YouTube said in an update Wednesday. “We are committed to advocating on behalf of our subscribers as we work toward a fair deal and will keep you updated on our progress.”
A rep for Fox Corp. confirmed the sides agreed to a short-term extension. The previous YouTube TV carriage agreement with Fox Corp. was set to expire Wednesday (Aug. 27) at 5 p.m. ET.
Such contract disputes have been a regular feature of the pay-TV business for decades. Fox Corp. claimed that Google, YouTube’s parent, had proposed “terms that are out of step with the marketplace” — indicating the fight hinges on Fox Corp. seeking higher programming fees from the internet giant.
Just hours before the prior YouTube TV-Fox Corp. agreement was due to end, YouTube announced a deal with Herring Networks to carry right-wing outlet OAN on YouTube TV starting in the fourth quarter of 2025. The addition of unabashedly pro-Trump OAN to YouTube TV may have been a bargaining tactic — that is, an attempt to persuade Fox Corp. to agree to renewal terms — or it could be aimed at softening the blow for MAGA supporters if Fox News is removed from YouTube TV’s lineup.
Fox Corp. on Monday began warning viewers of a potential blackout of its channels on YouTube TV. The company called out big upcoming sporting events in its messaging: “YouTube TV customers could be deprived of some of the fall’s biggest television sporting events, including NFL on Fox, College Football on Fox, FS1 and Big Ten Network, and MLB on Fox and FS1,” the company says on keepfox.com, a special-purpose website set up for the contract fight.
In a previous message to subscribers, YouTube TV said it was “actively negotiating to reach a fair deal for both sides, as well as our subscribers.” YouTube TV subs will be eligible to receive a $10 credit to if Fox’s content goes dark “for an extended period of time” as a result of the contract fight.
Fox Corp. channels available on YouTube TV are: Fox local stations; BTN; Fox Business; Fox Deportes; Fox News; Fox Soccer Plus; Fox Soul; Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and Fox Sports 2 (FS2); Fox Weather; KTVU Plus; and LiveNow from Fox. In addition, the companies’ agreement covers Fox Nation as an optional add-on to YouTube TV for $7.99 per month.
YouTube TV had an estimated 9.5 million customers as of the end of 2024, according to research firm MoffettNathanson. That makes it the biggest internet-delivered pay TV provider in the U.S. In December, YouTube hiked the price of its base subscription plan by 14%, raising it from $72.99 to $82.99 per month, because of “the rising cost of content,” according to YouTube.
YouTube TV has clashed in contract disputes with programmers before. In February 2025, YouTube TV and Paramount Global (now Paramount Skydance) renewed their agreement to carry CBS stations nationwide and more than 20 other channels after contentious deal talks became public.
In 2021, YouTube TV subscribers experienced a two-day blackout of Disney channels before the parties reached an agreement. That same year, NBCUniversal’s distribution deal for YouTube TV expired but the companies reached a short-term extension before inking a long-term pact.
Pictured above: Fox News hosts Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier
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