Spanish language network Univision is back on YouTube TV after parent company TelevisaUnivision reached a new distribution agreement with the Google-owned streaming service.
TelevisaUnivision announced Wednesday that it has a multi-year “expanded partnership” with YouTube TV, which will carry the company’s U.S. networks including Univision, Unimas, TUDN, and Galavisión on its base plan available to its 10 miliion subscribers.
The deal ends a two-month blackout of the channels, including Los Angeles flagship KMEX.
Under the new pact, YouTube will also make Univision’s subscription streaming service Vix available on its Primetime Channels hub.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement that restores Univision to YouTube TV, ensuring millions of Hispanics can access the news, sports, and entertainment they care about and have relied on for over 70 years,” said Daniel Alegre, CEO of TelevisaUnivision said in a statement.
YouTube TV had sought to move Univision’s channels to a more expensive Spanish-language add-on package, amounting to an 18% fee increase for customers.
Putting Univision on a higher-priced tier also would have cut into subscriber revenues, as the fees the networks received are based on the number of customers paying for the higher priced tier.
The proposal became a major sticking point in negotiations, keeping the Univision channels off YouTube TV since Sept. 30 and drawing the attention of Washington. A number of legislators expressed concerns that consumers were being asked to pay more for Spanish-language programming.
YouTube TV was introduced in 2017 as a lower-priced alternative to cable and satellite packages. But the costs of programming goes up with every deal made to carry major networks, leading to blackouts and tense negotiations.
The Walt Disney Co.’s networks, including ESPN, were off YouTube TV for 10 days before the two sides could agree on a new carriage deal on Nov. 14.
NBCUniversal’s channels were also at risk of being pulled before a new deal was reached on Oct. 2.
The price of a YouTube TV subscription — $82.99 a month — has more than doubled since the service launched.
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