Google-owned streaming cable television alternative YouTube TV is about to get a little smaller at the end of month.
Starting September 30, YouTube TV subscribers will no longer have access to Court TV, Tastemade and The Young Turks, with those channels being removed from all plans throughout the day.
Subscribers who have stored shows, movies or documentaries from any of the three affected channels in their cloud DVRs will no longer be able to access those recordings from October 1 onward, according to a note sent to affected customers.
Programming from two variants of Tastemade, called Tastemade in 4K and Tastemade Español, will also disappear from the platform.
No reason was given for the removal of the channels, but a source familiar with the matter said YouTube TV was prioritizing highly-sought networks that offer entertainment, movies, sports and news over lifestyle and niche channels.
The three channels that are being removed from YouTube TV still have a strong presence on other platforms, including YouTube, where clips from shows are offered. All three networks are also available on free streaming platforms like Xumo Play, Pluto TV and Tubi, though channel availability varies by service.
Court TV is operated by Law & Crime Network after being acquired by Jellysmack earlier this year; previously, it was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company, which maintains a separate agreement with YouTube for the distribution of its national networks like Ion and Scripps News.
Tastemade is part of Wonder Group, which also owns Blue Apron and Grubhub.
The Young Turks is a left-of-center political affairs channel that gained popularity on YouTube and Twitch. Programs from its online shows are repurposed into a 24-hour linear streaming feed that is widely available on free platforms.
