According to Android Authority, YouTube TV is finally restoring Univision channels after a nearly two-month absence that began in late 2023. The service dropped the Spanish-language broadcaster’s channels during carriage dispute negotiations, leaving subscribers without access since December. This comes after YouTube TV also had high-profile disputes with NBCUniversal and Disney-owned channels in recent months. The Disney channels were restored after a few weeks, but Univision remained offline significantly longer. The restoration means subscribers can now access networks like Univision, UniMás, and Galavisión again through their YouTube TV subscriptions.
The new normal for streaming TV
Here’s the thing – YouTube TV is proving that streaming services aren’t immune to the same carriage disputes that plagued traditional cable for decades. They’ve had three major standoffs in just the past few months. And honestly, this might be the new normal. When services like YouTube TV position themselves as cable replacements, they inherit all the messy negotiations that come with bundling channels together.
What’s interesting is how these disputes play out differently in streaming. Without the same regulatory framework as traditional cable, there’s more flexibility in how these battles unfold. But the core problem remains the same: content owners want more money, and distributors want to keep prices competitive. It’s a classic tug-of-war that streaming was supposed to solve, but apparently didn’t.
Who actually wins these fights?
Look, nobody really wins when channels go dark for months. Subscribers lose access to content they’re paying for. YouTube TV risks churn and bad PR. And Univision loses eyeballs and advertising revenue. So why do these disputes keep happening?
Basically, it’s all about leverage. YouTube TV has reached a scale where it can afford to play hardball with content providers. They know that most subscribers won’t cancel over losing a single channel group, especially when alternatives exist. But when you stack multiple disputes back-to-back like this, it starts to test customer loyalty. The question becomes: at what point does the “savings” over cable no longer justify the instability?
The fragile future of streaming bundles
This Univision restoration highlights just how fragile these streaming bundles really are. We’re watching the exact same dynamics that made cable so frustrating play out in the streaming world. Carriage disputes, blackouts, inevitable price hikes – it’s all happening again.
And here’s what worries me: as more people cut the cord, these services become even more powerful in negotiations. We could see even more aggressive tactics from both sides. The difference is that in streaming, it’s easier to jump ship when you get fed up. But is that really a solution, or are we just trading one set of problems for another?
