Just when you think the days of cable blackouts and carriage disputes are relics of a bygone era, they come roaring back with the latest showdown between a streaming giant and a broadcasting behemoth. YouTube TV stated in a blog that undoubtedly induced panic in millions of subscribers.

“We are working diligently with the team at Fox to reach an agreement.” The platform acknowledged the brewing storm, adding that if Fox content were to disappear for an extended period, “we will provide our members with a $10 credit.” It’s a small consolation prize for what could be a massive void in a fan’s life.

The clock is ticking, as the current carriage agreement is set to expire on August 27 at 5 p.m. ET. If a new deal isn’t inked by then, the channels will simply blink out. We’re talking about the Fox Broadcast Network, FS1, and the Big Ten Network (BTN)—the very lifeblood of a sports fan’s autumn.

The implications are huge: YouTube TV, which proudly offers comprehensive NFL coverage and the exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket package for $82.99/mo, promising over 100 live channels and unlimited DVR, could suddenly become a stadium with no home team. YouTube TV clarified that “Fox is asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive. Our priority is to reach a deal that reflects the value of their content and is fair for both sides without passing on additional costs to our subscribers.” They’re risking the trust of a subscriber base that pays a premium specifically for uninterrupted access to the games they adore.

As SBJ’s Austin Karp put it, “It wouldn’t be football season with some sort of carriage impasse.” Will it be a blackout for fans?

Blackout for the fans

This impasse threatens to silence the gridiron gods before they’ve even spoken. As Karp further added, “Fox/FS1/BTN getting dropped would obviously be a big deal for NFL, MLB, college football fans.” While the NFL on Fox doesn’t kick off its national showcase until a Week 2 Chiefs–Eagles Super Bowl rematch, the college football season is first in the firing line.

This Saturday, one of the most anticipated games of the year—Texas at Ohio State—is slated for the national spotlight on Fox. This is a ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ masterpiece called by the iconic duo of Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt. The day before, a fiery Auburn vs. Baylor matchup is set to ignite Friday night on the same network scheduled to be broadcast by Jason Benetti, Robert Griffin III, and Alexa Landestoy. For subscribers, the potential blackout transforms this weekend of spectacle into a weekend of frustration.

YouTube TV has always positioned itself as the master key for every sports fan’s front door. This fight showcases to us that the lock on Fox’s castle gate still needs its own unique, fragile, and probably very expensive agreement. We’ve seen this conundrum before. We saw it just this past February when Paramount Global and YouTube TV danced on the brink, threatening to pull more than 20 channels like CBS, BET, and Nickelodeon. A deal was struck, as they often are, but it set a precedent.

For subscribers, the hope is that this is merely a last-second bit of drama before both sides hike the ball and get on with the game we all came to see. Because no one wants to be left staring at a blank screen, ten dollars richer but immeasurably poorer in spirit.