Also, Braves launch new podcast, Falcons vs. Commanders on CBS Atlanta.
Sep 26, 2025
Those with a YouTube TV subscription could have a harder time finding live sports in the coming weeks.
That’s because the 10 million-strong platform has a carriage dispute with NBC Universal. They own NBC and Peacock, which has Sunday Night Football, college football, the WWE, and is weeks away from debuting its NBA season for the first time in years.
This dispute doesn’t just affect the NBC network, but also its affiliates, which include local Atlanta NBC outlet WXIA-TV, 11 Alive, which is owned by TEGNA, not NBC.
“Google, with its $3 trillion market cap, already controls what Americans see online through search and ads-now it wants to control what we watch,” said NBC through a statement. “YouTube TV has refused the best rates and terms in the market, demanding preferential treatment and seeking an unfair advantage over competitors to dominate the video marketplace—all under the false pretense of fighting for the consumer.”
YouTube TV’s side of the story?
“NBCUniversal is asking us to pay more than what they charge consumers for the same content on Peacock, which would mean less flexibility and higher prices for our subscribers,” said YouTube TV in a blog post. Google owns YouTube TV. Peacock is NBC’s streaming entertainment portal.
September 30, next Tuesday, is the deadline for the two sides to reach a deal, and if they don’t, NBC viewers who are also YouTube TV subs will have to scramble to find shows like The Voice, Law and Order, and their live sports programming.
Locally, if a deal isn’t reached by then, the Falcons vs. San Francisco 49ers Sunday Night Football game (Oct 19th) could be affected. No Hawks games are scheduled on NBC until November 4th, vs. the Orlando Magic. (It doesn’t seem likely for a dispute like this to go on this long into Football season.)
YouTube TV also has carriage negotiations with Disney coming up. Their current deal runs out in October, which means ABC, ESPN, both heavy live sports destinations that include future Falcons, Georgia Bulldogs, and Hawks games, could be affected. Like with NBC and previous other disputes, this one looks like it could also go to the wire.
Stay tuned. If you can.
FanDuel Announces Hawks Broadcast Team
Credit: FanDuel Sports
As the new Hawks season draws closer, FanDuel has announced changes to its Hawks broadcast team.
New this year is host/reporter Matt Winer, who will host the “Hawks Live” pregame show and post-game shows. Winer will also be doing the sideline reporting duties when the team is on the road. Winer was formerly with TNT Sports, where he hosted Major League Baseball on TBS. He also worked at ESPN and CBS Sports. His local TV credits include KSDK-TV St. Louis, WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, and WJTV Jackson, Miss.
He replaces the exiting Treavor Scales.
Also joining the team is Madison Hock, who will be the courtside reporter for Hawks home games. Hock knows basketball. She was a former Division I Belmont University guard. Hock’s resume includes stints at Bally Sports Southwest, WBIR-TV Knoxville, WATN-TV Memphis, and WJKT, also in Memphis. She replaces Tabitha Turner.
Hawks preseason starts October 6, vs. the Houston Rockets.
Braves Launch New Podcast
Photo credit: Atlanta Braves
The Braves have added a new episodic podcast in their collection. Called “Braves Country Convos,” the show features hosts Jori Palmer and Lauren Sadd with “fun, lighthearted, and unexpected discussions as they interview guests with strong Braves Country ties about the things that connect us all.” It promises comedy, insight, and community for Braves fans who give it a listen. Braves Country Convos is available on Apple, Spotify, and Audacy.
Falcons play the Commanders on CBS Atlanta
Photo credit: Brian Allen
Don’t look for the Dirty Birds in their usual TV nest on WAGA-TV Fox 5 this Sunday, because they will be playing on WUPA-TV Channel 69, better known as “CBS Atlanta.” The station gave up its independent status to join CBS after the network left WANF Atlanta News First earlier this Summer.
CBS Atlanta will get three Falcons games this season. The first is this Sunday’s when the Falcons take on the Washington Commanders at home. The game starts at 1 pm.
Forthcoming Falcons games on CBS are Week 8 (10/26) vs. the Miami Dolphins and Week 9 (11/2) vs. the New England Patriots.
