Disney’s networks, including ESPN and ABC, went dark on YouTube TV.
YouTube TV removed the Disney network less than 30 minutes before its previous carriage agreement was set to expire at midnight ET, as the two sides remain divided over contract renewals that kept ABC, ESPN and others on its internet TV service. The biggest problem is the price. Disney is demanding a rate hike, but Google has no intention of agreeing.
YouTube TV said it will offer subscribers a one-time $20 credit if Disney channels remain unavailable for an “extended period.” YouTube TV’s basic subscription plan costs $82.99 per month. The outage will leave television users across the country unable to watch their local ABC stations, as well as ESPN sports programming, including NFL, college football, NBA and NHL games.
Google announced that YouTube TV will remove the Disney-owned network from its service starting October 30th at 9pm PT and October 31st at 12am ET. However, YouTube TV users on social media say they lost Disney programming even before the deadline. In addition to removing live networks, YouTube TV also removes DVR library recordings that users have made from these networks.
Disney began warning viewers on Oct. 23 about a shipping dispute with YouTube TV, noting that its network could be removed from pay-TV providers. YouTube TV is the largest Internet TV service in the United States, with an estimated number of over 10 million subscribers. In second place is Disney, which just signed a deal to merge its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo. Combined, they have about 6 million subscribers in North America.
“Last week, Disney used the threat of a YouTube TV blackout as a negotiating tactic to force customers into terms that would increase prices,” a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement. “They are now making good on that threat and suspending their content on YouTube TV. This decision directly harms our subscribers while benefiting their own live TV products like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.”
The YouTube rep continued: “We know this is a frustrating and disappointing outcome for our subscribers, and we continue to ask Disney to work constructively with us to reach a fair agreement to bring the network back to YouTube TV. We will provide subscribers with a $20 credit if their content remains off YouTube TV for an extended period of time.”
In negotiations with Disney, Google proposed new genre-based tiers and packaging flexibility to give YouTube TV customers more choice. Disney insists the idea is acceptable. However, neither side has found agreement on this point either.
Disney said YouTube TV wants a better deal than any other company in the market, such as Comcast or Charter, which has more TV customers, and is reluctant to pay market rates for Disney’s networks or agree to the terms Disney has agreed to with other distributors, including its own Hulu + Live TV and Fubo services.
“Unfortunately, Google’s YouTube TV has chosen to deny its subscribers the content they value most by refusing to pay a fair price for channels like ESPN and ABC,” a Disney spokesperson said. “Unless a new deal is signed, subscribers will no longer have access to our programming, which includes the best lineup of live sports focused on the NFL, NBA and college football, with 13 of the top 25 college teams playing this weekend.”
A Disney representative went on to say, “Google, with a market capitalization of $3 trillion, is using its market power to eliminate competition and undercut industry standard terms that have been successfully negotiated with all other distribution companies. We understand how frustrating this is for YouTube TV subscribers and will continue to work towards a resolution as soon as possible.”
The full list of networks pulled from YouTube TV is: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Freeform, FX, FXX, FXM, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, SEC Network, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Localish. It was broadcast on the Spanish program ESPN Deportes, Baby TV Español and Nat Geo Mundo.
Disney is the latest media conglomerate to enter into a spat with Google over YouTube TV this year. Other companies that fought the company include Paramount Global (now Paramount Skydance), Fox Co., and NBCUniversal, all of which reached new deals without blackouts. However, YouTube TV discontinued the other networks owned by Univision and Televisa Univision at the end of September after the two sides were unable to reach a new agreement.
In 2023, Disney and Charter publicly fought over contract renewal, but both sides resolved their differences to avoid power outages. In 2024, ESPN and the rest of DisneyNet ceased broadcasting on DirecTV for nearly two weeks until a new deal was reached. Earlier this month, Disney signed a fleet renewal agreement with Comcast without any drama.
In December 2021, Disney and Google agreed to update the fleet after a two-day power outage. YouTube TV first launched in April 2017.
Adding to the current conflict between Disney and Google is former Disney distribution chief Justin Connolly, who joined YouTube this spring as vice president of global media. Disney sued YouTube and Connolly, alleging breach of contract and seeking an injunction against his employment at Google, citing in part Connolly’s knowledge of Disney regarding YouTube TV contract renewal negotiations. The parties recently reached a settlement on the issue after Disney lost a legal ruling in the case.
Above: ABC’s “High Potential” starring Kaitlin Olson and Daniel Sunjata
