Google-owned streaming service YouTube TV says it will lower its subscription fee to $55 a month if it is unable to carry Comcast-owned channels beyond the end of September.
On Sunday, YouTube TV and Comcast’s NBC Universal division pointed toward an impending carriage dispute involving dozens of Comcast-owned NBC and Telemundo feeds as well as NBC Sports-branded regional networks and cable channels like E!, Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC and USA Network.
“[Comcast] is seeking fair rates from Google for YouTube TV’s continued carriage of the only portfolio offering entertainment, Hispanic, news and sports networks,” a spokesperson said in a message on Sunday. “Unfortunately, Google is refusing to make a deal at these fair rates and is willing to withhold entertainment, news and sports programming from their paying customers.”
In a statement of its own, Google said it wanted to reach an agreement with Comcast that kept the cost of YouTube TV competitive.
“For the duration of our agreement, YouTube TV seeks the same rates that services of a similar size get from [Comcast], so we can continue offering YouTube TV to members at a competitive and fair price,” Google said.
YouTube TV currently has around 3 million paying subscribers, making it one of the top streaming cable TV alternatives in the country.
The service mainly competes with Fubo TV, Disney’s Hulu with Live TV and Dish Network’s Sling TV for customers. Its base package of channels, which also includes networks from Fox Corporation, AMC Networks, ViacomCBS and AT&T WarnerMedia, costs $65 a month.
