ESPN, ABC, and other Disney-owned channels are returning to YouTube TV after Google and Disney reached a new multiyear carriage agreement Friday, ending a blackout that frustrated millions of subscribers and cut into both companies’ bottom lines.
The dispute, which began Oct. 30 when the previous contract expired, had knocked ABC, ESPN, FX, Disney Channel, and other networks off YouTube TV for nearly two weeks. Google argued Disney was seeking an unprecedented fee increase and insisted the service carry its full lineup of channels. Disney countered that Google was refusing to pay market rates and was attempting to undermine traditional distributors.
Under the new agreement, YouTube TV subscribers will regain access to all Disney networks and any DVR recordings previously removed during the blackout. The deal also includes future additions: by the end of 2026, ESPN’s full slate — including content from ESPN Unlimited, the standalone streaming service launched in August — will be integrated into YouTube TV’s base package at no added cost.
YouTube will also be able to incorporate the Disney+ and Hulu bundle into select service offerings, and Disney says some networks may be included in forthcoming genre-based channel packages.
The blackout arrived at a high-stakes moment, overlapping with marquee college football matchups and two Monday Night Football broadcasts. Disney attempted to mitigate the impact by making its “College GameDay” pregame show available free on X, though fans still missed other major events. YouTube TV, meanwhile, issued one-time $20 credits to customers beginning Nov. 9 in an effort to reduce cancellations.
Despite subscriber losses — a survey suggested nearly a quarter of customers had canceled or planned to cancel — Google said churn remained manageable. Disney also absorbed financial pain, losing an estimated $4 million per day during the outage.
The agreement replaces a 2021 deal that briefly resulted in a two-day blackout. Negotiations this time were led by executives from Disney Platform Distribution and YouTube’s business office, and the standoff became public Oct. 23 when Disney warned subscribers that a removal was imminent.
Source: Variety