Scoop: TelevisaUnivision wages war with YouTube

Zoom in: The spots, which will run across internal and external digital and social platforms, explain that YouTube TV plans to remove Univision from its $83 basic bundle package on Sept. 30 and instead will force Hispanic viewers to pay another $15 a month to access the network through a separate, additional Spanish-language content bundle.

• The ad calls the effort an 18% "Hispanic Tax" and casts doubt on Google's ethics, saying it's charging Hispanics more to access Univision at "a time of economic uncertainty for many."
• "Hispanics paying more, denied access to the content they need, losing their voice, and worse, singled out as a minority. That's just wrong," the ad reads. "Do the right thing, Google. Otherwise, this looks evil," it continues, alluding to Google's former "Don't be evil" motto.

How we got here: Programmers like TelevisaUnivision renegotiate carriage deals with live TV providers, including digital live TV companies like YouTube TV, every few years.

• When those negotiations hit a snag — usually over price — it's not uncommon for networks and distributors to engage in public consumer campaigns to pressure their counterparts.

What's different about this battle is that — according to a source familiar with the negotiations — the debate was not at its core about the renewal cost, but rather where TelevisaUnivision's programming would live within YouTube TV's offering.

• YouTube TV, the source said, insisted that Univision be pulled from its standard TV package where it currently sits, and instead move to a Spanish-language package that consumers would need to pay additional money to access.
• That deal, TelevisaUnivision executives believe, is untenable because it is so far out of step with the other national distribution deals with YouTube TV's competitors.
• In every current pay-TV distribution deal TelevisaUnivision has in the U.S. market, Univision sits within the standard package offered.

Reality check: TelevisaUnivision is not typically considered a small-scale broadcaster, which is what makes YouTube's move notable. The network has recently brokered long-term carriage deals with digital live TV providers that are direct competitors to YouTube, including Hulu with Live TV.

• Univision is one of the most-watched local news networks regardless of language in several markets, including Los Angeles and Miami.
• With 10 million paid subscribers, its streaming service ViX is by far the world's largest Spanish-language streaming service.

In a statement, a TelevisaUnivision spokesperson said, "Google's proposal to remove Univision from its core offering on YouTube TV and charge its customers 18% more to access the leader in Spanish-language broadcasting is discriminatory and an abuse of its market power."

• "Alongside the major English-language networks, Univision is an essential part of the American mainstream. Univision is of critical importance to millions of Hispanic Americans, something that has been recognized by every single major content distributor – except Google. Univision is not niche — it moves America."

• YouTube initially told Axios it was working with TelevisaUnivision to reach an agreement. The company later updated its statement, with a spokesperson telling Axios, "TelevisaUnivision's demands aren't supported by their performance on YouTube TV over the last four years."
• "If we cannot reach a fair deal by September 30th, their programming will no longer be available on YouTube TV. Our carriage decisions are based on viewer consumption and pricing, and any suggestion to the contrary is false."

Flashback: Univision, long before it merged with Televisa in 2022, has faced issues with carriers.

• Univision content was blacked out for Dish subscribers for nine months in 2018 and 2019 following a messy, months-long feud that involved a lawsuit and regulatory complaints.

What we're watching: Trump administration officials have already signaled a willingness to back programmers in carriage fights with YouTube, especially ones with which it has a good relationship.

• While Univision previously had a contentious relationship with President Trump, its new owners — Mexican broadcast behemoth Televisa — have made a concerted effort to court favor with conservatives.
• Last month, FCC chair Brendan Carr put pressure on Google to make a deal with Fox, after the tech giant threatened to pull Fox Corp.-owned channels from YouTube TV. The two sides ultimately came to a last-minute agreement days later.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a statement from YouTube.