Google-owned streaming television service YouTube TV will begin carrying two channels owned by Herring Networks as part of a multi-year distribution agreement reached this week.
The deal involves the carriage of One America News (OAN) and A Wealth of Entertainment (AWE), which will be added to YouTube TV’s portfolio of linear channels by the end of the year.
“We’re excited to bring OAN and AWE to YouTube TV’s ever-growing community of subscribers,” Richard Levine, the President of Distribution at Herring Networks, said in a statement. “This partnership makes it easier than ever for viewers nationwide to connect with our networks — from in-depth news reporting to inspiring entertainment. We’re delighted to be part of the YouTube TV channel lineup.”
“Our goal has always been to provide our subscribers with a wide range of content, which is why we’re excited to bring One America News to YouTube TV,” Justin Connolly, the Vice President and Global Head of Media at YouTube, said on Wednesday. “This partnership gives One America News access to our growing audience, while also giving our subscribers even more choice when it comes to news and entertainment.”
The deal was announced just a few hours before YouTube TV’s contract with Fox Corporation was set to expire. That agreement, which ends at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, covers the distribution of Fox-owned local channels and national networks like Fox News Channel, Fox Business Networks and Fox Sports 1 (FS1), among others.
Officials from YouTube and Fox say they are still engaged in discussions to renew their distribution agreement, but have not yet announced a new deal or an extension to keep the channels on YouTube TV beyond Wednesday evening.
OAN is one of two channels that pay TV distributors have leaned on to offer right-of-center news programming during disputes with Fox. The other, Newsmax, was added to YouTube TV last October.
OAN has been one of the most-outspoken news outlets in support of President Donald Trump and his administration, often amplifying false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. Last year, OAN reached a confidential settlement with Smartmatic, which sued the channel for defamation over its election coverage.
OAN made headlines earlier this year after Kari Lake, a special advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, signed a non-binding agreement to license news content and programming from the network for the country’s external broadcaster Voice of America.
AWE, meanwhile, offers lifestyle-oriented programming focused on luxury travel, high-end cars and real estate. Herring describes the network as delivering “original vicarious living programming” across a variety of aspirational genres.
