On Thursday, YouTube TV announced that they were unable to come to a carriage agreement with Sinclair for the Fox Sports Regional Sports Networks, and that the networks would be pulled from the streaming service on Feb. 29. This comes after streaming services Sling (owned by Dish, which also pulled the RSNs) and fuboTV recently dropped the Fox RSNs, leaving Hulu and AT&T TV Now as the only streaming services offering the RSNs.
Well, on Friday night, YouTube tweeted — in response to a frustrated customer — that they had reached a “temporary extension” with Sinclair to keep the Fox RSNs, “while [they] work to reach an agreement.”
Negotiations are still underway! In the meantime, we've agreed to a temporary extension. FOX RSNs and YES Network are still available on YT TV while we work to reach an agreement. We’ll send out an update as soon as we have more info on a resolution.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 29, 2020
Negotiations are still underway! In the meantime, we’ve agreed to a temporary extension. FOX RSNs and YES Network are still available on YT TV while we work to reach an agreement. We’ll send out an update as soon as we have more info on a resolution.
Plenty of YouTube TV customers voiced their frustration on social media following Thursday’s news. And perhaps all of the complaints and threats to leave the streaming service led to the two sides reaching a short-term extension while they keep negotiating.
Many NBA, NHL, and MLS teams broadcast their games on the RSNs, and the MLB season is right around the corner (with Spring Training already underway). The New York Yankees (YES Network) and over a dozen more MLB teams broadcast their games on the RSNs affected.
Basically, if you're a fan of the #Angels, #Braves, #Brewers, #Cardinals, #Cubs, #Diamondbacks, #Indians, #Marlins, #Padres, #Rangers, #Rays, #Reds, #Royals, #Tigers, #Twins or #Yankees it's time to shop around … and without Sling as well the streaming options are limited. https://t.co/u3LcqNkWAg
— Cory McCartney (@coryjmccartney) February 27, 2020
The Chicago Cubs also launched their Sinclair-owned network in recent days, the Marquee Sports Network. YouTube TV and Sinclair have been in negotiations for the streaming service to carry Marquee, but that will surely require the two sides agreeing to a long-term extension for all of the Fox RSNs first.
