Disney executives told troops Thursday night that they will continue to fight for a “fair deal” with Google’s YouTube TV, following the withdrawal of Google’s internet services from ESPN, ABC and other Disney networks.
Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Dana Walden and Alan Bergman and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro sent a memo to employees Friday morning regarding the YouTube TV outage.
According to the three executives, YouTube TV “without prior notice to our subscribers or us, did so before their previous carriage agreement expired at midnight ET. In doing so, they not only cut off access to our live programming, but also removed all previously recorded programs and events from our subscribers’ libraries.” (DVR recordings of live TV are subject to a contract of carriage and must be deleted once the contract expires.)
Walden, Bergman, and Pitaro continued: “Their actions reveal how little they value their customers and are consistent with the attitudes that have prevailed throughout our negotiations. YouTube TV and its owner, Google, have no interest in achieving a fair deal with us. Instead, they want to use their power and extraordinary resources to eliminate competition and devalue the very content that helped build their service.”
Executives told employees that Disney will continue to work toward lucrative deals with Google and YouTube. “We want nothing more from YouTube TV than what we get from every other streamer: a fair price for our channel,” they wrote.
In a statement Thursday night, a Google spokesperson said Disney was seeking terms that would “increase prices for our customers,” and that the decision to increase prices “directly harms our subscribers while benefiting our own live TV products, such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.” YouTube said it would offer subscribers a one-time $20 credit if Disney content is not watched on YouTube TV for an “extended period of time.”
Disney signed a deal this week to merge its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo. Disney said Google’s hesitance to raise shipping costs is consistent with what Disney has successfully negotiated with other distribution companies, including its own Hulu + Live TV and Fubo services.
The complete list of Disney networks removed 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.
Read notes from Walden, Bergman, and Pitaro.
team,
As you may be aware, last night YouTube TV removed our channel from their service without prior notice to either our subscribers or us prior to the expiration of our subscription at midnight. In doing so, they not only cut off access to our live shows, but also removed all previously recorded shows and events from our subscribers’ libraries. Their actions reveal how disrespectful they are to their customers and are consistent with the attitude that was prevalent throughout our negotiations. YouTube TV and its owner Google have no interest in achieving a fair deal with us. Instead, they want to use their power and extraordinary resources to eliminate competition and devalue the very content they helped build.
We’re incredibly proud of the work so many of you do to create the highest quality, most engaging content. ESPN and ABC, in particular, have made significant investments in programming, including the industry’s best live sports lineup. ABC alone has seen a nearly 80% increase in the number of live games over the past few years. This weekend’s lineup is incredible, with 13 of college football’s top 25 teams on the platform, a doubleheader of NWSL games on ESPN, and Monday Night Football starting soon with Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys on ABC.
The bottom line is that our channel is extremely valuable, and we can continue to show our viewers the sports and entertainment they love most by standing firm against tactics that threaten the integrity of our business and the value of our creative works. We want nothing more from YouTube TV than what we’ve gotten from every other streamer: a fair price for our channels.
We will update you as soon as there is any progress on this matter. If you’re a YouTube TV customer and can no longer access your channel, there are other ways to watch it at KeepMyNetworks.com.
We know how hard so many of you work every day to create, promote, and support our programs. We deeply appreciate your continued focus, professionalism, and commitment.
Alan, Dana, Jimmy
