An Iowa TV Station Could Soon Disappear from YouTube TV

If a resolution isn't reached between two major corporations, Iowans could find one of their premier sources for TV news and entertainment blacked out on a popular streaming service.

Growing up with DirecTV was a blessing in so many regards. My father's loyalty to our satellite dish meant we had NFL Sunday Ticket and a copious amount of movie channels. That's why I always tell people that growing up as an only child wasn't difficult for me, personally. Cable was my parent some days. The sad part, however, was when DirecTV would get in a spat with, say, Viacom, and the beef would result in my household losing access to channels such as Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and BET. Then I'd have to go outside and find something to do!

READ MORE: Archaic MLB Blackouts are Ruining Baseball for Iowa Fans

What is a TV Blackout?:

Blackouts in television can mean different things depending on context. In the context of sports, blackouts happen when a national TV station is prohibited from airing a game in a specific market, likely because a local broadcaster is airing the same game. It's a tool used to protect local broadcasters from out-of-market competition.

In this context, however, a blackout is a result of a carriage dispute. It's a disagreement between two entities over the right to retransmit (or "carry") a broadcaster's signal. Like everything in society, it boils down to money, and in most cases, the distributor doesn't want to pay what the broadcaster is asking, and a standoff ensues.

KCRG Could Be Blacked Out for Many in a Matter of Days:

Cedar Rapids-based Iowa TV station KCRG-TV9, an ABC affiliate, could disappear from YouTube TV starting on October 31st, 2025 due to a carriage dispute.

YouTube TV is threatening to drop KCRG from its service due to an ongoing dispute between Google, the owner of YouTube TV, and ABC (KCRG is an affiliate of the network).

It's important to note that this potential blackout is not anything KCRG or any of its employees/anchors have any control over. This is an ABC matter, not anything on the local front.

How You Can Watch KCRG, Should the Blackout Occur:

Even if the October 31st YouTube TV blackout occurs, KCRG viewers can still watch the network via an antenna, or by downloading the network's streaming app on the following platforms:

• Apple
• Android
• Roku
• Fire
• Apple TV

Being that it's the viewers who are always the victims of a TV blackout, you can voice your opinions on the matter on the website KeepMyNetworks.com.