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No current CBS blackout is documented. YouTube TV warned in February 2025 that CBS and other Paramount channels could disappear if the companies failed to renew their agreement. They extended the deal before an immediate blackout, and later reporting described a longer-term agreement. YouTube TV’s current availability information lists local CBS stations in supported markets.
What happened between YouTube TV and Paramount?
This was a carriage dispute: YouTube TV carries Paramount’s broadcast and cable networks, and the companies were negotiating the terms of their distribution agreement. Their public notices did not disclose the specific fees or contract terms at issue, so claims about a particular price demand should be treated cautiously.
Here is the timeline:
- February 12, 2025: YouTube TV warned customers that Paramount programming could become unavailable if an agreement was not reached.
- February 13, 2025: The stated deadline arrived. The companies agreed to a short-term extension, keeping the channels on the service while negotiations continued. CBS News reported on the extension.
- February 17–18, 2025: Later reporting described a longer-term agreement preserving CBS and other Paramount networks. The extension and the later agreement were separate steps, not one single deal. A February 18 report covered the longer-term agreement.
As of August 18, 2026, the available YouTube TV support information continues to list local CBS stations in supported locations. That reflects current documented availability, not a guarantee against future contract disputes. Check YouTube TV’s network availability by location.
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YouTube TV’s warning covered Paramount programming including CBS and CBS Sports, as well as Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount and other Paramount-owned networks. The warning also referred to related add-on access, including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and BET+. YouTube TV said affected content and previous recordings from those channels could become unavailable if the agreement expired. Because the threatened blackout was avoided, these should be described as channels that could have been affected, not channels that were all removed.
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YouTube TV’s February 2025 notice gives the original warning and affected programming details.
Why losing CBS would matter
CBS is both a national broadcast network and, in many markets, a local station. A loss of carriage could therefore affect more than a familiar channel name: viewers might miss local CBS programming, primetime shows, CBS News and sports shown on their local CBS feed, including NFL games carried by CBS. College sports and other events can also depend on the particular rights and local arrangement.
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A carriage dispute does not necessarily take the local CBS signal off the air. If a future YouTube TV blackout occurred, an antenna might still receive the station over the air where reception is adequate.
How to find CBS in your YouTube TV guide
If you cannot see CBS, check for a listing issue before assuming there is a carriage dispute. A local CBS affiliate may appear by its station call letters rather than under the generic name “CBS.” Availability also depends on your location. A YouTube TV community answer explains the affiliate-label issue.
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- Open the YouTube TV channel guide and search for CBS.
- Search for your local station’s call letters as well.
- If you use a custom guide, check whether the station is hidden.
- Confirm that your home location and current playback area are correct.
- Check that your account is active and billing is current.
- Look for a notice or known issue in YouTube TV Help, then contact support if the station should be available in your market but is still missing.
A temporary app, account, device or location problem can look like a network blackout. An old headline about the February 2025 deadline is not, by itself, evidence that CBS is leaving now.
Would Paramount+ replace YouTube TV?
Paramount+ may suit viewers seeking Paramount shows, movies, originals or selected live programming. Depending on the current plan and market, it may also offer live local CBS. But it is not automatically a replacement for YouTube TV’s full live-channel bundle, cloud DVR, every local CBS affiliate or all affected Paramount cable channels and sports coverage. Check the current plan details and the specific programming you need on Paramount+.
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| What you need | YouTube TV | Paramount+ | Over-the-air antenna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local CBS | Available in supported markets; check your location and guide | Plan and market dependent; verify the live local feed | Depends on reception in your home |
| Broad live-TV bundle | Yes | No; it is not a full live-TV replacement | No |
| Paramount originals and on-demand shows | Not equivalent to the standalone Paramount+ service | Yes, subject to the current catalog and plan | No |
| Cloud DVR | YouTube TV includes its own DVR experience | Not the same as YouTube TV’s cloud DVR | Requires separate recording hardware or service |
| Ongoing service cost | Live-TV subscription | Separate streaming subscription; plan terms can change | Usually no monthly fee, but reception equipment may be needed |
A Paramount+ subscription should not be assumed to include the same linear feeds of Nickelodeon, MTV, BET or Comedy Central that a live-TV provider may carry. It also may not carry every CBS sports event. Check the event’s rights, local availability and the specific plan rather than relying on the channel name alone.
What to do if a future blackout happens
- Confirm the notice. Check YouTube TV’s official support channels to see whether the issue is a confirmed carriage dispute or a technical problem.
- Check your local listing. Search by affiliate call letters and verify your location and guide settings.
- Consider an antenna for broadcast CBS. This can be a relatively low-recurring-cost way to watch a local broadcast station, but terrain, distance, building materials and antenna placement affect reception. It will not provide cable networks or YouTube TV’s DVR.
- Compare Paramount+ against the exact shows or events you watch. Confirm live local CBS access and sports rights for your plan and market; do not assume it replaces the entire affected lineup.
- Compare another live-TV service only if you need the broader bundle. Check the exact local channels, sports rights, DVR terms, simultaneous streams, add-ons and full monthly cost before switching.
If channels disappear, recordings may also be affected. In its 2025 warning, YouTube TV said previous recordings from affected channels could become inaccessible. A new service would not import a YouTube TV DVR library. Do not count on an automatic refund or credit; eligibility depends on the provider’s policy and the circumstances. YouTube’s refund support page explains how to request a review.
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YouTube TV announced genre-based plan options in 2026, including an Entertainment Plan described as carrying broadcasters and channels such as Comedy Central and Paramount. Plan names, availability and prices can change, and a package description does not establish that every local CBS station or sports right is included. Check your ZIP code and the exact current plan before subscribing. See YouTube’s plan announcement.
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