The short term agreement averts a loss of access to popular CBS soaps.
YouTube TV announced late last night that it had reached a “short-term extension” to its carriage rights deal with Paramount, wherein the Google-owned TV streaming service will continue providing subscribers with such channels as CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, TV Land and BET, among other networks and services.
“We’ve reached a short term extension as we work toward a deal with Paramount to keep their content on YouTube TV,” the service said in a statement. “YouTube TV subscribers continue to have access to Paramount channels, including CBS, and any recordings that are in their Library. We appreciate your patience as we continued to negotiate on your behalf. We also value Paramount’s partnership and willingness to work towards an agreement.”
YouTube, Paramount
YouTube/Paramount+
Details on the deal were not made available at press time, particularly the length of the extension. When a user on X asked for clarification on what “short term” meant, the service responded, saying, “We’ll share more updates as we have them. Thanks for your patience!”
As previously reported, a dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount would have greatly impacted the launch of “Beyond the Gates,” the brand new daytime drama series debuting Monday, February 24 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+*. “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless,” among other Paramount-owned network and cable offerings, would have also been interrupted.
At the time, YouTube TV said in a statement, “We work hard to bring you the content you love, delivered the way you want. Despite our best efforts, we’ve been unable to reach a fair deal with Paramount to keep their channels on YouTube TV and their channels may be unavailable tomorrow.”
Launched in February 2017, YouTube TV is an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service operated by YouTube and has emerged as the fourth largest TV service provider in the U.S. with eight million subscribers as of February 2024.
On its website, KeepParamount.com, the company says of talks with YouTube TV, “The comprehensive deal Paramount is proposing would continue our relationship with YouTube TV, enabling them to give you access to our leading broadcast and cable networks at a fair price.”
Touting its successful lineup of networks, Paramount also noted, “CBS has the #1 new series, comedy series, and news magazine plus is #1 in daytime and late night.”
Paramount owns, co-owns, or has a controlling interest in 23 networks, including those listed below.
