US President Donald Trump has asked Google to restore access to Univision on the YouTube TV streaming platform. In a post shared on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump has argued that the blackout is detrimental to Republicans ahead of the upcoming Midterm elections in the US. He tagged Google on the Truth Social post to reinstate the leading Spanish-language broadcaster “for the purpose of FAIRNESS,” adding that the ongoing blackout “is VERY BAD for Republicans in the upcoming Midterms.”YouTube TV removed Univision’s channels almost a week ago after the two companies disagreed on a new carriage contract. Trump’s request portrays Univision as a crucial political tool for Republicans, highlighting the channel’s importance in political outreach.
What Donald Trump said in his Truth Social post
In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “I hope Univision, a great and very popular Hispanic Network, can get BACK onto the very amazing Google/YouTube. It has been taken out of their package, which is VERY BAD for Republicans in the upcoming Midterms. They were so good to me with their highest-rated-ever political Special, and I set a Republican Record in Hispanic voting. Google, for the purpose of FAIRNESS, please let Univision back! President DJT.”Highlighting Trump’s post, Daniel Alegre, Televisa Univision CEO, wrote on social media: “Thank you very much, President Trump, for recognising the impact of Univision and the importance of Hispanics. We take pride in Univision representing the voice of Hispanic America. It is our priority to bring Univision back to YouTube TV.”
YouTube’s response to Trump’s request
In a statement to CNN, YouTube said that “we remain open to negotiating an agreement that reflects their performance on YouTube TV. Until then, their content remains unavailable on YouTube TV.”The company’s statement suggests that TV carriage negotiations are typically legal and public relations disputes, and not a political issue.
YouTube TV, a growing alternative to cable in the US, also noted that it hasn’t reached a new carriage deal with Univision due to what it called the network’s unrealistic demands.“TelevisaUnivision has over 160 million subscribers and billions of views across YouTube, where they generate ad revenue from their content. On our paid live TV subscription service, YouTube TV, however, TelevisaUnivision only represents a tiny fraction of overall consumption,” a YouTube spokesperson said to CNN.Trump’s message to YouTube came just days after the platform settled a lawsuit he filed over his suspension following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.According to a court filing, YouTube agreed to contribute $22 million to the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall, which is “dedicated to restoring, preserving, and elevating the National Mall, to support the construction of the White House State Ballroom.”
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