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Google and NBCUniversal Seal Multi-Year Deal to Keep Popular Shows on YouTube TV

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Alphabet’s Google and Comcast-owned NBCUniversal have reached a multi-year agreement ensuring that hit programs like “Sunday Night Football” and “America’s Got Talent” will remain available on YouTube TV, one of the largest pay-TV services in the United States.

The deal, announced Thursday, concludes a tense negotiation over carriage fees and preserves YouTube TV’s access to NBCUniversal’s full portfolio, including networks such as NBC, CNBC, and MSNBC. The companies also confirmed that NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service will continue to be available through YouTube’s Primetime Channels, a marketplace where users can subscribe to third-party streaming platforms directly via the YouTube app.

“This deal builds on our longstanding partnership with NBCU while addressing the evolving media landscape and recognizing the importance of making content available where and how viewers want to watch it,” said Justin Connolly, YouTube’s global head of media and sports.

The new agreement includes an extension of Peacock’s availability across Google’s Android platforms, including Google Play and Google TV. The partnership underscores Google’s growing influence in television distribution—YouTube now represents the largest share of TV viewing in the U.S., surpassing both Netflix and traditional networks like Disney, according to Nielsen data.

Earlier in the week, the two companies had signed a short-term extension to prevent a blackout while negotiations continued. The resolution ensures uninterrupted access to NBC content for YouTube TV subscribers, who had faced uncertainty over potential programming losses.

YouTube TV, now among the top four U.S. pay-TV distributors, has leveraged Alphabet’s vast financial resources to strengthen its bargaining position in similar talks with Paramount Skydance and Fox Corporation—a sign of its expanding clout in the rapidly consolidating media ecosystem.

The agreement reflects a broader shift in the entertainment industry, where tech platforms are becoming the new cable giants, dictating how and where millions of viewers watch television.

Paramount Names Meta’s Dane Glasgow as Chief Product Officer

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Paramount announced Wednesday that Dane Glasgow, a senior executive from Meta, will join the company as chief product officer. In his new role, Glasgow will shape Paramount’s product strategy and vision, with a focus on digital platforms and AI-driven capabilities.

Glasgow will report directly to Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison and collaborate closely with Cindy Holland, who leads the company’s direct-to-consumer division.

He brings extensive experience from across the tech industry, having served as VP of Product Management at Meta’s Facebook since 2021, and previously holding executive positions at Microsoft, eBay, and Google.

Paramount Skydance was created after the $8.4 billion merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media in August, ushering in a wave of new leadership and strategic deals. Since then, the company has:

  • Secured a partnership with Activision Blizzard (owned by Microsoft) to produce a “Call of Duty” film adaptation,

  • Signed a three-year global distribution deal with Legendary Entertainment, beginning with a “Street Fighter” movie,

  • Committed $7.7 billion for the exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to the UFC for the next seven years.

With Glasgow’s appointment, Paramount is signaling its intent to push deeper into digital innovation while leveraging its expanded entertainment portfolio.

Paramount Co-CEO Brian Robbins to Step Down Following Skydance Merger

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Brian Robbins, who played a key role in growing Paramount+ streaming service, is stepping down as co-CEO of Paramount Global (PARA.O) after the completion of its merger with Skydance Media, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday. Skydance CEO David Ellison will assume leadership as chief executive once the merger closes by August 7.

In the memo, Robbins expressed confidence in Ellison and the incoming Skydance team, saying, “The company is in exceptionally capable hands.” Robbins joined Paramount in 2017 and was appointed co-CEO in April 2024 alongside George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy, collectively succeeding Bob Bakish.

Chris McCarthy’s departure was announced last month, while Cheeks will stay on as chair of media, overseeing Paramount’s broadcast and cable TV operations. Robbins previously served as CEO of Nickelodeon (2018) and became Paramount Pictures chief in 2021, overseeing 17 box office number one releases and franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog, A Quiet Place, and Mission: Impossible.

Post-merger, the company is expected to be reorganized into three main segments: studios, direct-to-consumer, and TV media.