Disney Channels Blackout: ESPN, ABC, and More Pulled from YouTube TV
In a move that’s sure to disappoint sports fans and entertainment enthusiasts, a significant blackout has hit YouTube TV. As of October 30th, viewers found themselves without access to a suite of Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, ABC, and Nat Geo. The core issue? A failure by Disney and Google to agree on a new content distribution agreement.
The Breakdown of the Deal
The situation boils down to disagreements over carriage fees. Google, in a public statement, cited Disney’s proposed economic terms as being too costly, which would have led to higher prices for YouTube TV customers. Disney, however, has countered with a statement to Variety, accusing Google of refusing to pay fair rates for its channels, including ESPN and ABC. Disney further claims that Google is “using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms.”
The channels affected include a wide array of content. The full list of removed channels includes: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FX, FXX, FXM, SEC Network, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, ABC News Live, ACC Network, and Localish. Subscribers on the Spanish plan also lost access to ESPN Deportes, Baby TV Español, and Nat Geo Mundo. The implications are broad, impacting both live viewing and recordings saved to users’ libraries.
Negotiations and Previous Instances
Google described Disney’s actions as a “negotiating tactic.” The company has also stated that it will offer subscribers a $20 credit if the channels remain off YouTube TV for an extended period. This isn’t the first time such a breakdown has occurred. A similar situation arose in 2021 when the previous contract between the two companies expired. It’s worth noting that NBCUniversal managed to reach a renewal deal with Google earlier this month, preventing a similar blackout of its channels.
The The Verge reached out to Disney for comment, highlighting the gravity of the situation for both parties. As the two companies remain at odds, the future availability of these channels on YouTube TV is uncertain.
Source: The Verge
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