YouTube TV is losing many regional sports channels and fans are furious

YouTube TV announced on Thursday that as of Saturday, February 29th, customers will no longer have access to Fox regional sports networks or the YES Network, both owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group.

YouTube TV was not able to reach a carriage agreement with Sinclair and cited “the rising cost of sports content,” which means that thousands of fans across the country will have to find another way to watch their favorite NBA, MLB or NHL team. YouTube TV noted that other providers have also cut Sinclair-owned channels in the past over similar contract disputes, such as Dish Network and Sling.

To bring you 70+ channels, we have contracts with content owners that are periodically renegotiated. Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of FOX Regional Sports Networks and YES Network, is one of the largest owners of local TV stations in the US.

— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 27, 2020

 

We do not take this decision lightly. This is a reflection of the rising cost of sports content. You may have noticed several other TV services have also decided to remove FOX Regional Sports Networks from their lineups.

— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 27, 2020

Fans sounded off on both YouTube TV and Sinclair on social media.

by my count, Fox regional/Sinclair networks have rights to 17 NBA, 15 MLB and 11 NHL teams.

— 506 Sports (@506sports) February 27, 2020

Hey @DallasStars @Rangers and @YouTubeTV… Dropping @FOXSportsSW from #youtubetv is a major hassle. Since other providers are doing the same thing, maybe @MLB and @NHL should find someone other than Sinclair to do business with. Your product and your customers deserve better. https://t.co/Mud3rmSFkC

— Gil (RSA can't happen since I'm not there) Brice (@gil_brice) February 27, 2020

Sinclair Broadcasting can’t get a deal with Dish, Sling, Fubotv, or YouTubeTV. At some point it can’t be the providers’ fault.

— Joshua Johnson (@JoshWJohnson) February 27, 2020

So does YouTube TV lower their monthly price they will no longer be carrying some expensive channels, will the price remain the same even with a lowered quality of channels? Can still negotiate with Sinclair, and let the monthly rate rise 5-10 dollars more.

— Ramon (@GamblorNeonClaw) February 27, 2020

UGHHH GUESS IM SWITCHING TO YET ANOTHER CABLE STREAMING SERVICE WHERE ELSE CAN I GET YES??? I LIKED YOUTUBE TV TOO pic.twitter.com/VkCQxHdz9G

— RSGabe⭐ (@MrgabrielTorres) February 27, 2020

YouTube TV is about to take a huge L on this. Regardless of how you feel about Sinclair, having access to your favorite local teams' broadcasts is non-negotiable for so many subscribers (this one included). It's the only reason I pay to stream live TV. https://t.co/pxR18KYWv7

— Casey Null (@caseynull) February 27, 2020

Re: the YouTubeTV/RSN talks, don't forget that DISH/SLING haven't carried those channels since July, and Comcast went black with YES Network from Nov. 2015-March 2017.

No amount of public furor is going to change this one way or the other.

— Cory McCartney (@coryjmccartney) February 27, 2020

As of now, Sinclair's sports products are no longer available on

YouTube TV
Sling
Dish Network
FuboTV

So…what is exactly the business plan here Sinclair? https://t.co/gqIJczKdJ3

— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) February 27, 2020

The problem isn't DISH and Youtube TV

The problem is the family behind the Sinclair Broadcasting Group, worth a combined $1.2 billion, wants even more money

What a joke

— Austin Ward (@austinward41) February 27, 2020