Latest in YouTube TV

Ad sales, including a jump at YouTube and Google Search, fueled solid fourth-quarter earnings for parent Alphabet including beats on the top and bottom line. The stock popped more than 6% after hours. YouTube advertising revenue surged 25% to $8.6 billion. Sales from search grew to $43 billion vs $31.9 billion in the…

YouTube TV and Disney agreed to a new deal that will restore access to a number of the entertainment giant’s networks including ESPN, ABC and FX. News of the updated carriage deal comes Sunday afternoon, just days after negotiations between Disney and Google failed to reach fruition, leading to the Disney networks goin…

After negotiations failed to reach fruition, Disney networks including ESPN have gone dark on YouTube TV. Disney had indicated earlier this week it was “optimistic” about the prospect of resolving the carriage dispute. But the parties said the discussions had not resulted in an agreement and the networks disappeared…

Disney expressed confidence it will be able to renew its distribution deal with Google, in order to keep ABC stations, ESPN and a number of other networks on YouTube TV. However, the media giant noted that the agreement is set to expire on Friday just before midnight. “Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution has a…

Roku and Google have resolved their longtime differences over the YouTube and YouTube TV apps, reaching a multi-year carriage extension a day before a key deadline. The two tech companies have waged a war of words throughout much of 2021, but reached an agreement ahead of Thursday’s expiration of the YouTube…

UPDATED with NBCUniversal statement. NBCUniversal and YouTube TV have renewed their carriage deal, averting a potential blackout. In a statement, NBCU said it didn’t want to “involve our fans” in a carriage battle, but felt “obligated” to warn them about the looming impasse last week. “We are thrilled to have reached…

2ND UPDATE with NBCUniversal statement: NBCUniversal and YouTube TV have agreed to an extension of their carriage agreement, which officially expired Thursday, while they continue to negotiate a renewal. In a statement, NBC described it as a “short extension while parties continue talks.” While 14 networks hang in the…

UPDATED with comments from earnings call: Google's YouTube saw ad revenue jump last quarter, passing $7 billion from $3.8 billion a year ago. The video giant's parent Alphabet saw overall sales surge during second-quarter 2021 to nearly $62 billion from $38 billion, beating Wall Street expectations across the…

YouTube TV is rolling out an option for streaming in 4K as well as enhancements like 5.1 Dolby Audio, with the aim of improving the experience of watching next month’s Tokyo Olympics. The new features of the streaming TV bundle are available as of today. The Olympics are due to kick off on July 23. YouTube TV said the…

UPDATED with Roku statement. Roku has hit back at Google over actions by its YouTube TV unit in the companies’ distribution fight. Earlier today, YouTube TV said it was adding a “Go to YouTube TV” function within the main YouTube app as a workaround for YouTube TV bundle subscribers caught up in the tussle. In a…

UPDATED with YouTube TV response. YouTube TV has issued a lengthy response to Roku’s latest blow in the two companies’ intensifying distribution fight. Earlier this morning, the streaming bundle was removed from Roku’s channel store, blocking it from new sign-ups but allowing existing users to continue to view the…

YouTube advertising revenue jumped 48% to just over $6 billion in the first quarter of the year as the economy reopens, helping parent Google/Alphabet batter sales forecasts. Total ad revenue at Alphabet jumped to $44.7 billion from $33.7 billion. Total sales including Google Cloud hit $55.3 billion for the three…