TelevisaUnivision Channels Return to YouTube TV as Companies Strike Deal

Univision is coming back to YouTube TV, nearly two months after it was pulled from the streaming multichannel video provider.

YouTube TV and TelevisaUnivision on Wednesday announced a new deal that will return the Spanish-language media company’s channels to the platform, while also allowing YouTube to bring its nascent Primetime Channels business to Mexico.

The deal sees TelevisaUnivision’s U.S. channels, Univision, UNIMÁS, TUDN, and Galavisión, return to the base tier and Spanish-language plans of YouTube TV, beginning today. It will also see the ViX streaming service sold through YouTube Primetime Channels in the U.S. and Mexico, the first time the service has been available in that country.

The companies also plan to partner on other initiatives that will leverage YouTube’s scale around the world, and its large Spanish-language audience.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement that restores Univision to YouTube TV, ensuring millions of Hispanics can access the news, sports, and entertainment they care about and have relied on for over 70 years,” said Daniel Alegre, CEO of TelevisaUnivision, in a statement. “This agreement recognizes the essential role that our content plays in the daily lives of our viewers, as we fulfill our mission of reflecting the voice of Hispanics. We look forward to serving YouTube TV subscribers again.”

“We are happy to share that we’ve reached a new agreement with TelevisaUnivision across YouTube and YouTube TV,” a YouTube TV spokesperson added. “In addition to restoring their channels to YouTube TV, this new agreement will offer their streaming service, ViX, to more countries around the world through our Primetime Channels. We are also excited to partner with TelevisaUnivision to grow their presence across YouTube by bringing more content to YouTube’s global audiences and new bundled offers to the marketplace.”

The TelevisaUnivision channels were pulled at the end of September, a few weeks after their carriage negotiations spilled into public view. Even President Trump got involved, urging the companies to cut a deal via his social channels.

YouTube TV has found itself in a number of tough negotiations with its media partners in recent months, though most (including NBCUniversal and Fox) were able to cut a deal without any channels going dark. Disney was the exception, with ESPN, ABC and other networks leaving the platform for more than two weeks, the longest blackout in its history.

YouTube has been seeking to leverage YouTube TV to help grow its Primetime Channels business, which sells premium subscription services. It has also tried to leverage its growth, which is notable at a time when effectively every other pay-TV platform is shrinking. Many analysts expect YouTube TV to become the largest pay-TV provider in the U.S. (passing cable companies like Comcast and Charter) within the next year or so.