Good news, folks! And a reminder that everything is a negotiation.
Just a couple days after very publicly proclaiming – coughing loudly, tapping the mic – that they would be pulling the FOX Regional Sports Networks and the YES Network from their service, YouTube TV has changed course. I’m thinking they got flooded with the negative reaction we were all seeing.
They’ve started telling people on Twitter this morning via the official YouTube account that an extension has been reached to keep the channel’s live while a deal is worked out:
We are! We have agreed to a temporary extension! FOX Regional Sports Networks and YES Network are still available on YouTube TV while we work to reach an agreement. We’ll be sure to share an update as soon as we have more info on a potential timeline. More to come!
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 29, 2020
Yes, it's included on the list of channels that'll be affected. However, negotiation is underway and all FOX RSNs are still available on YT TV while we are working to reach an agreement. We'll send out an update as soon as we have more info.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 29, 2020
We can't confirm how long will the extension last, but as soon as we receive an update on the agreement we're working with Sinclair, we'll let you know about it.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 29, 2020
Sorry to hear about this – Fox RSNs and Yes Network are still available as we have agreed to a temporary extension. We're currently working to reach an agreement with Sinclair. We're waiting for an update on this and we'll share it as soon as it's available.
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) February 29, 2020
This squares with Sinclair’s surprising message this week that, despite YouTube’s previous announcement, negotiations are ongoing.
That Sinclair message, by the way, was also true with respect to Comcast and DISH, and indicated they are viewing all of their properties in one negotiating bucket. In other words, good news for the FOX RSNs on YouTube means good news for Marquee on YouTube.
This does *NOT* mean a deal is done, but with baseball season coming, I have to believe that this extension was put in place specifically to allow the sides to reach an agreement before Opening Day. And, in that case, Marquee – like the Yankees’ YES Network – would almost certainly be included in the deal.
So you can suddenly now have optimism that another one of the major streaming services *IS* going to have Marquee when the season opens. And, again, Sinclair has also said they are “confident” a deal will be reached with Comcast and DISH eventually (my guess? Comcast before Opening Day, DISH maybe sometime this year).