This week on TechHive: Why the YouTube TV-NBC dispute is different
When I wrote this week’s TechHive column, YouTube TV’s NBC channels were in limbo. And technically, they still are.
On Sunday, both YouTube TV and NBCUniversal started warning users that their carriage agreement would expire on September 30. If the two companies didn’t make a deal by then, YouTube TV would have dropped more than a dozen NBC-owned channels from its lineup—including local NBC stations—while also dropping its price by $10 per month.
That didn’t end up happening, as the two companies agreed to a short extension late Thursday night while they continue to negotiate. My guess is that they’ll work things out without any blackouts.
But regardless of what happens, this feels like more than just another carriage dispute. Instead, it marks a new chapter in the streaming wars, one in which TV networks fight even harder to fleece TV bundle subscribers, and providers like YouTube TV push back harder to stop them. Read the full column on TechHive.
Weekly rewind
More YouTube TV-NBC notes, in no particular order:
- In case you don’t click on my column, the channels at stake are NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!, Golf Channel, MSNBC, the Olympic Channel, Oxygen, Syfy, Telemundo, Universal Kids, Universo, and USA Network, along with regional NBC Sports channels and SNY.
- On the off-chance of a blackout, FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV would be the most logical replacements to keep getting NBC channels. They both start at $65 per month, though Fubo lacks WarnerMedia-owned channels (such as TNT, TBS, CNN, and TruTV), while Hulu lacks AMC channels. (I’m also not a fan of Hulu’s DVR.) DirecTV Stream may also be worth a look, but it costs more for fewer channels.
- YouTube was telling customers to consider Peacock Premium (at $5 per month) in case of a blackout, but it’s not a true replacement. While it carries live Sunday Night Football and primetime NBC shows the day after they air, it mostly avoids overlap with NBC’s cable channels.
- You may recall that T-Mobile subscribers can currently get $10 per month off YouTube TV. If YouTube TV were to drop NBC channels and lower its price, T-Mobile says the discount would still apply, bringing the price to $45 per month.
Again, these are all probably moot points now, but keep them in mind in case negotiations fall apart.
Peacock’s Olympic retry: Speaking of Peacock, Insider got hold of an NBCU slide deck for ad agencies that says NBCUniversal plans to “relaunch” the service next year, with an ad blitz aimed at drawing in more paid subscribers.
The leak consists mostly of marketing fluff. (From one eye-rolling excerpt: “We liven any situation. We Dazzle. When we’re in the room, something’s gonna happen.”). Still, one tidbit stood out: NBCU knows it botched the Tokyo Olympics by relegating most live events to cable. The company is now promising advertisers that the Beijing Olympics in February will be different, with most live events streaming on Peacock.
While media companies have been deathly afraid of cannibalizing cable by bringing their most valuable sports coverage to streaming services, that approach is becoming untenable as more cord cutters simply decide to tune out. NBCU may be seeing the light as it tries to placate advertisers.
Hulu’s unusual bundle: Hulu is currently giving away six months of Uber Eats Pass to its ad-free ($13 per month) and Live TV ($65 per month) subscribers. That waives Uber Eats’ delivery fees on eligible restaurant orders over $15, and on grocery orders over $30. You also get 5% off eligible food orders and 10% off three Uber rides per month.
It’s one of the weirder bundle deals I can recall seeing, but Hulu’s pitching it as a way to stuff your face while you’re stuck to the couch, which makes sense I guess. If you’re eligible, just make sure to disable auto-renew on Uber Eats after you sign up. You’ll find the “Auto-renew” toggle partway down the Eats Pass home page.
More catch-up
- Comcast may drop MSG in New Jersey and Connecticut.
- YouTube TV adds subscriptions to niche services such as Fandor, Screambox, and Up Faith & Family.
- YouTube TV reportedly has 4 million subscribers, beating Hulu + Live TV.
- Google Fiber will kill its cable TV service in favor of streaming.
- Neat idea: TV and movie recommendations by email, tailored to your streaming services and favorite genres.
Save more money
If you’ve previously subscribed to Discovery+ and no longer do, check your email (and your spam or promotions folders, if need be). Discovery’s been offering a year of the ad-supported service for $30, which is half off the regular price when paying monthly. New subscribers can also get a year of Discovery+ for $36, which is still a decent savings.
Also notable: Woot is selling Amazon’s Fire TV Stick for $25, or $22 if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber. It’s a decent deal if you don’t have a 4K TV, though we’ve seen the 4K version drop to as little as $25 during major sale events, such as Black Friday and Prime Day.
Thanks for reading!
It’s always nice when I can be the bearer of good news about cord cutting, rather than stories about channels being dropped or prices being hiked. Though I’m guessing some of you would have welcomed an NBC blackout and corresponding price cut on YouTube TV, the volume of mildly-panicked emails I received over the week suggests that’s a minority opinion.
Anyway, feel free to hit me with your cord cutting questions, comments, and feedback by replying to this email.
Until next week,
Jared