With frequent price hikes and carriage disputes, YouTube TV seems to be acting more and more like a cable provider these days. But with Paramount networks’ imminent shutdown on the streaming platform, the impact on sports fans could impact one of the biggest events of the year: March Madness.
YouTube TV subscribers were likely shocked to receive an email on Monday informing them that Paramount networks could go dark as soon as Tuesday.
While the list of networks mostly consists of lightly watched entertainment channels, the major sticking point for sports fans is that CBS and CBS Sports Network are on the potential shutdown list.
But seriously, here’s what YouTubeTV is losing if they lose Paramount.
That’s a big chunk of March madness. https://t.co/BBJ596LiWe pic.twitter.com/0lrI6riAba
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) February 13, 2025
This battle right after football season is not the worst thing in the world regarding carriage disputes. Imagine if the AFC playoffs or Big Ten games were on the chopping block. There would be protests in the streets.
At mid-February, CBS’s sports inventory is fairly limited. We’re mostly talking regular-season college basketball and one last PGA Tour event on the west coast swing before NBC takes over coverage in Florida. There are also some niche sports like pickleball, poker, bull riding, and sailing on CBS Sports Network.
But it becomes a different story once we hit the middle of March.
The Big Ten basketball tournament semifinals will be broadcast on CBS on Saturday, March 15th. Selection Sunday will be March 16th. The NCAA Tournament will begin in full on Thursday, March 20th.
If this dispute lasts for a lengthy period, it could impact YouTube TV subscribers’ intake of one of the year’s greatest sporting events. Yes, the WBD networks would still air many games on TNT, TBS, and truTV, but missing CBS during March Madness would be a significant blow.
Both sides likely see mid-March as an unofficial deadline, with March Madness looming. But so far, both sides seem prepared for a fight. YouTube TV is even offering subscribers an $8 credit to subscribe to Paramount+ so that they can still watch those channels while being clear that they totally get it if they lose subs in the dispute. In other words, they aren’t exactly acting with a sense of urgency.
And in truth, it’s a new day for carriage disputes. Why would YouTube TV give in on Paramount’s demands if they already offer a streaming platform with everything already out there. And for Paramount, why not siphon off some YouTube TV subscribers and get them on your own platform? Both sides might want this to continue because they see it as beneficial.
The only group that doesn’t see the bright side is subscribers looking for a comprehensive option that makes sense for them. When it came to cost and viewing options, YouTube TV used to offer the best value for money. But we are a long way from YouTube TV, which costs $50 a month. Another $10 price hike this year has brought the monthly fee to $82.99, which is closer to what cable subscribers used to pay for their bundles.
YouTube TV subscribers can’t feel good about getting a massive carriage dispute right after that exorbitant increase. If they then lose out on March Madness, the goodwill the platform has built up over the years will have quickly evaporated. And it’ll just be another fracture in the sports and entertainment landscape.
About Matt Yoder