DIRECTV Drops 52 Local Stations; YouTube TV Excludes NFL Network from Base
DIRECTV has lost 52 local broadcast stations, including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates, due to ongoing carriage disputes. Concurrently, YouTube TV is removing NFL Network from its non-sports packages, restructuring its offering to subscribers. These changes impact the availability of traditional linear and sports content on vMVPD and satellite platforms.
Key Takeaways
- DIRECTV lost 52 local stations, including affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.
- YouTube TV removed NFL Network from its non-sports subscription plans.
- Carriage disputes are cited as the reason for DIRECTV's loss of local channels.
Why It Matters
The removal of 52 local broadcast stations from DIRECTV underscores the ongoing friction between distributors and broadcasters over carriage fees, directly impacting consumer access to linear content. Simultaneously, YouTube TV's decision to place NFL Network behind a separate sports package highlights an industry trend towards unbundling and tiered content access, forcing subscribers to pay more for specific premium content. These actions signal increasing pressure on traditional and virtual MVPDs to manage content costs while retaining subscribers. Going forward, watch for further splintering of sports content into premium add-ons and escalated carriage disputes affecting subscriber attrition rates across platforms.
Read full article at cordcuttersnews.com
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