WWE fans watching SmackDown on September 26 were alerted to a potential blackout of NBCUniversal channels on YouTube TV. A message appeared on screen during the live broadcast, warning that programming, including the weekly wrestling show, could be pulled from the service.
The alert stems from an ongoing carriage dispute between YouTube TV and NBCUniversal. At the center is a contract negotiation that must be resolved by September 30. Without a new deal, NBCUniversal’s portfolio of channels faces removal from the streaming platform.
According to Deadline.com, one sticking point is YouTube TV’s push to integrate content exclusive to the Peacock service into its own interface. The report noted that YouTube offered higher financial compensation for the rights, but NBCUniversal rejected the proposal.
A YouTube spokesperson addressed the dispute, stating, “NBCUniversal asking us to pay more than what they charge consumers for the same content on Peacock, which would mean less flexibility and higher prices for our subscribers. We are committed to working with NBCUniversal to reach a fair deal for both sides ahead of our current agreement expiring on September 30. If their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we’ll offer our subscribers a \$10 credit.”
The warning was displayed during SmackDown’s live feed from the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, placing WWE programming at the center of the corporate standoff.
