YouTube TV to Remove Court TV, Tastemade, and The Young Turks

YouTube TV, the live television streaming service owned by Google, is reducing its channel lineup at the end of the month. Starting September 30, subscribers will no longer have access to Court TV, Tastemade, and The Young Turks across all plans. This change also affects specialized feeds, including Tastemade in 4K and Tastemade Español, and will render any stored cloud DVR recordings from these networks unavailable starting October 1.

Quick summary

• Court TV, Tastemade, and The Young Turks will leave YouTube TV on September 30.
• Cloud DVR recordings from these channels become unavailable on October 1.
• Tastemade in 4K and Tastemade Español are also being removed from add-on plans.
• A source indicates the service is prioritizing high-demand entertainment, sports, and news over niche channels.
• The affected networks remain available on other platforms, including free services like Pluto TV and Tubi.

What happened

The Google-owned service notified its customers earlier this month regarding the removal of three specific networks. The transition takes place on September 30, affecting not only the base package but also the Spanish Plus and 4K Plus add-ons, which carry Tastemade Español and Tastemade in 4K, respectively. According to a note sent to customers, any shows, movies, or documentaries from these channels saved in the cloud DVR will be inaccessible from October 1 onward.

Viewers who use the built-in DVR to save courtroom trials, cooking segments, or political commentary have until the end of September to watch their stored content. While the core YouTube TV channel list remains intact for October, these specific feeds will disappear from the guide. No detailed public explanation was issued by the company, though a source familiar with the matter stated that YouTube TV is prioritizing highly-sought networks focused on news, sports, movies, and entertainment over lifestyle and niche programming.

How we got here

Lineup adjustments are a recurring occurrence in the live-TV streaming market. According to Cord Cutters News, carriers periodically review whether channels provide enough viewership relative to their carriage costs, leading to the removal of those that no longer fit the package. Niche and specialty networks often face a higher risk of removal compared to major broadcast or sports outlets.

The platform has also navigated complex rights issues with sports content. For example, while YouTube TV integrates ESPN Unlimited content, the show 'NFL Primetime Presented by Mucinex' is not viewable on the platform due to rights restrictions. This occurs despite the intertwined partnerships between Google, the NFL, ESPN, and Disney, illustrating the difficulties in distributing specific sports highlights in a linear format.

• Earlier in September: YouTube TV notifies subscribers of the upcoming changes.
• September 30: Court TV, Tastemade, and The Young Turks are removed from the service.
• October 1: Cloud DVR recordings for these channels become unavailable.

Who is involved

The departing networks cover diverse content areas. Tastemade, which focuses on food, travel, and lifestyle, is part of the Wonder Group, the same entity that owns Grubhub and Blue Apron. Court TV, known for courtroom coverage and true-crime series, is operated by Law & Crime Network following its acquisition by Jellysmack earlier this year. Previously, it was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company, which still has a separate agreement with YouTube for networks like Scripps News and Ion.

The Young Turks is a left-of-center political affairs channel that originally grew its audience on Twitch and YouTube. The network repurposes its online shows into a 24-hour linear feed. All three networks maintain a presence outside of YouTube TV, with content available on the main YouTube site or through various free and paid streaming alternatives.

What the sources say

While YouTube TV has not provided a public detailed reason for the change, a source familiar with the situation suggests a strategic shift toward high-demand content. This involves favoring networks that offer broad entertainment and news over those serving niche interests. This approach is common in the industry as providers balance carriage costs against viewer engagement.

Regarding alternatives, sources note that Tastemade is still available on The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo, and other paid platforms. Court TV remains accessible via DIRECTV, Fubo, Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel. The Young Turks' programming continues to be available on the main YouTube website at no additional cost.

Explainer

A cloud DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is a feature in streaming services that allows users to record live television broadcasts to a remote server rather than a physical hard drive. This enables viewers to watch programs at their convenience. However, access to these recordings is dependent on the service's current licensing agreements with the channel owners.

Carriage costs refer to the fees that a streaming service or cable provider pays to a network in exchange for the right to carry that network's programming. When these costs are deemed too high relative to the number of people watching the channel, the provider may choose to drop the network from its lineup.

What comes next

Subscribers have a limited window until September 30 to finish watching any saved recordings from the affected channels. After this deadline, the library copies will no longer be accessible. Users who wish to continue following these networks will need to utilize other apps or services, as the content will no longer be integrated into the YouTube TV subscription.

The removal of these three channels is described as modest in scale compared to previous high-profile disputes between streaming carriers and major media groups. For now, the rest of the YouTube TV channel list is expected to remain unchanged as the service enters October.