Paramount, YouTube TV Reach Deal

Google’s YouTube and Paramount Global have struck a new distribution contract, averting a threatened blackout of CBS and other television channels for nearly 8 million YouTube TV customers.

The LA Times reports the deal was clinched Saturday night, about 48 hours after the previous pact had expired. The two sides then extended a deadline to allow negotiations to continue, keeping nearly two dozen Paramount channels, including CBS Sports, BET, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land and Los Angeles broadcast stations KCBS-TV Channel 2 and KCAL-TV Channel 9 available to YouTube TV customers.

“With this agreement, YouTube TV will continue to offer 100+ channels and add-ons including Paramount+ with Showtime and will enable more user choice in the future,” YouTube said in a statement. “To our subscribers, we appreciate your patience while we negotiated on your behalf.”

Negotiators spent days haggling over terms and fees that Google would pay for the rights to carry Paramount channels. Neither side appeared eager to let their squabble disrupt viewing for YouTube’s subscribers.

As part of the agreement, YouTube will begin offering Paramount’s streaming services, including BET+ and Paramount+ with Showtime, as an add-on channel on the streaming service.

“We look forward to extending our long-standing partnership and giving audiences greater access to their favorite programming,” Paramount said in a statement.