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YouTube TV and Paramount reached an agreement on February 15, 2025, preserving YouTube TV access to CBS, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon and other Paramount programming. The deal followed a short-term extension that prevented an immediate blackout. It also preserved YouTube TV’s 100-plus-channel service and add-ons including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
The agreement remains relevant for subscribers in 2026, but it should not be described as a new 2026 announcement or as a permanent guarantee. The companies did not disclose the contract’s length, financial terms or complete channel-by-channel provisions.
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What happened?
YouTube TV originally warned subscribers on February 12, 2025, that Paramount content could become unavailable after February 13 if the companies failed to renew their distribution agreement. The warning specifically identified CBS and CBS Sports and said the dispute could also affect recordings and certain add-ons.
On February 13, YouTube TV announced a short-term extension at 8 p.m. Pacific Time, preventing an immediate interruption while negotiations continued. On February 15, YouTube TV announced that it and Paramount had reached a deal.
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According to YouTube TV’s announcement, the agreement kept CBS, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon and other Paramount channels on the service. YouTube TV also said its 100-plus-channel lineup and add-ons such as Paramount+ with SHOWTIME would continue.
Which channels were involved?
YouTube TV’s 2025 announcement named CBS, CBS Sports and Nickelodeon, along with “more” Paramount programming. “CBS Sports” should not automatically be read as every sports program associated with CBS or Paramount: CBS, CBS Sports Network and Paramount+ carry different programming and event rights.
A broader 2020 Paramount/ViacomCBS distribution announcement listed a much wider historical portfolio, including CBS broadcast stations, CBS Sports Network, Pop TV, Smithsonian Channel, The CW, BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TV Land, VH1, BET Her, MTV2, Nick Jr., NickToons, TeenNick and MTV Classic.
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- Watch over 40,000 full episodes on demand from hit series like Survivor, NCIS, Big Brother and more
- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
What would subscribers have lost without the agreement?
The threatened blackout never occurred because the extension and final agreement were reached. However, YouTube TV’s warning described several possible consequences:
- Paramount live channels, including CBS and CBS Sports, could have disappeared.
- Existing Library recordings from affected channels could have become inaccessible.
- Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and BET+ add-ons could have been affected.
- If the outage lasted long enough, YouTube TV said it would offer an $8 credit.
The $8 credit was a contingency promise, not compensation that subscribers received after an actual blackout. YouTube TV also pointed viewers toward Paramount+ as a separate way to watch some Paramount programming.
Why were YouTube TV and Paramount negotiating?
This was a carriage-fee and contract-renewal dispute. YouTube TV pays content companies for the right to distribute their channels, while Paramount negotiates the terms under which its networks appear in the service.
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- Get hooked on subscriber-only originals
- Make every night a movie night with blockbuster hits and fan-favorite films
- To Redeem: Go to paramountplus.com/redeem
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Did the Paramount deal raise YouTube TV’s price?
There is no public evidence in the agreement announcement that establishes a specific price increase caused by the deal. YouTube TV said it sought to avoid passing additional costs to subscribers, but that was not a promise that prices would never rise.
YouTube TV’s basic package had already increased by $10 per month in January 2025, according to CBS News. That increase should not be attributed to the Paramount agreement without separate evidence.
For current context, the official YouTube TV service page listed the following prices when checked on August 18, 2026:
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| Plan or add-on | Listed price |
|---|---|
| Main YouTube TV plan | $82.99 per month |
| Sports Plan | $64.99 per month |
| Entertainment Plus | $29.99 per month |
| Sports Plus | $10.99 per month |
| Spanish add-on | $14.99 per month |
| 4K Plus | $9.99 per month |
These are current service-page prices, not prices established by the 2025 Paramount agreement. Promotions, eligibility, taxes and add-on terms may vary.
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What the agreement means for CBS viewers
For subscribers, the immediate result was continuity: they did not have to change services solely to keep watching CBS or Paramount-owned cable networks.
Local CBS availability still depends on the subscriber’s market. YouTube TV says its local network coverage reaches more than 98% of U.S. television households, but a national CBS listing does not guarantee that a particular local affiliate is available at every address. Check the lineup using your ZIP code.
It is also important to distinguish:
- CBS: the broadcast network and, where available, its local affiliate.
- CBS Sports Network: a separate national cable sports channel.
- Paramount+ programming: a separate streaming catalog and service, with some live sports and CBS programming in supported circumstances.
Keeping a channel in the carriage agreement does not guarantee that every CBS, NFL, college-sports or Paramount event uses the same channel or is available through the same subscription.
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Is Paramount+ included with YouTube TV?
No—not automatically with the base plan. YouTube TV advertises Paramount+ with SHOWTIME as a paid premium add-on and as part of the Entertainment Plus bundle. The 2025 agreement preserved that add-on relationship; it did not make Paramount+ universally included in the standard YouTube TV price.
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YouTube TV currently advertises unlimited cloud DVR storage, with recordings retained for nine months. The service supports up to six personal accounts and up to three simultaneous streams; 4K Plus enables unlimited streams at home subject to YouTube TV’s terms.
What should subscribers check?
- Confirm local CBS coverage. Enter your ZIP code on the official YouTube TV service page.
- Check the exact channel. Decide whether you need the CBS broadcast network, CBS Sports Network, Nickelodeon or another Paramount network.
- Review the plan and add-ons. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME is not included automatically in the base plan.
- Calculate the full monthly cost. Include premium, sports and 4K add-ons rather than comparing base prices alone.
- Consider your recording needs. YouTube TV’s DVR may be valuable, but a future carriage dispute could again threaten access to recordings from affected channels.
Alternatives if another dispute occurs
There is no single equivalent replacement for every YouTube TV feature and channel. The best alternative depends on what you watch:
- Paramount+ suits viewers primarily interested in Paramount-owned shows, movies and selected live programming, but it is not a complete live-TV bundle.
- Hulu + Live TV may suit households seeking a broad live-TV and on-demand package. Verify CBS and local-channel availability by market.
- Fubo may appeal to sports-focused households, although channel and regional-sports availability must be checked.
- DIRECTV offers traditional pay-TV-style packages with different pricing, promotions, fees and contract structures.
- An over-the-air antenna can provide local CBS where the signal is receivable, paired with a standalone streaming service for selected Paramount content.
Why the date still matters in 2026
The relevant sequence is clear:
- February 12, 2025: YouTube TV issued its initial warning.
- February 13, 2025: the companies agreed to a short-term extension.
- February 15, 2025: YouTube TV announced that a deal had been reached.
- August 18, 2026: YouTube TV’s official service page still listed CBS and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME availability.
The 2025 agreement resolved the immediate dispute. It did not publicly establish how long the contract would last, guarantee unchanged pricing or eliminate the possibility of future carriage negotiations.
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