When Disney’s Net was first separated from YouTube TV, the internet company said it would offer subscribers a $20 credit if ESPN, ABC local stations, and Disney’s other channels were unavailable for an “extended period.” And now that credit is about to be provided.
To appease disgruntled customers, YouTube will begin issuing $20 credits to eligible YouTube TV customers starting Sunday, November 9th, unless there is already an agreement with Disney to restore the channels. YouTube will send YouTube TV subscribers an email with instructions on how to apply a one-time $20 credit to their next billing statement. All credits will be issued by Wednesday, November 12th.
YouTube TV subscribers have been unable to watch ESPN, ABC local stations, and other Disney networks since they were removed from the lineup just before midnight ET on October 30th.
YouTube said if Disney agrees to the deal, the channel will be back up “within hours” ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL Monday Night Football game between the Eagles and the Packers, scheduled to air on both ABC and ESPN.
“We know our subscribers are frustrated by the disruption, and we continue to urge Disney to work constructively with us to reach a fair agreement that returns the network to YouTube TV as soon as possible,” YouTube said in a statement Saturday. Regarding the negotiations, YouTube said, “Disney continues to rely on Disney’s tactics instead of negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement.”
YouTube TV is only available in the US and costs $82.99 per month for the basic subscription plan.
The disagreement centers on price. Google claims Disney is demanding unprecedented price increases, while Disney claims the tech giant “refuses to pay a fair price for our channels.”
SEE ALSO: YouTube TV subscribers furious over Disney blackout: 24% say they have already canceled or plan to cancel soon
On Friday, three Disney executives, Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, sent a memo to staff indicating that the two sides were not yet close to renewing their contracts. “When will ESPN and ABC return to service? We wish we could have answered that question today, but unfortunately, without a deal in place, we’re in for another sports-filled weekend,” executives wrote.
Disney executives argued that the company “offered fair terms that are in line with the more than 500 other distributors that have renewed contracts since last summer, including top distributors much larger than YouTube TV.” (In October, Disney quietly reached a contract renewal with Comcast.) “Despite these circumstances, YouTube TV continues to insist on receiving preferential terms below market value and has made few concessions,” Walden, Bergman and Pitaro said in the memo.
Disney executives claimed that the company is offering Google “innovative, bespoke programming packages customized for sports fans, entertainment fans, kids and families, which will give YouTube TV tremendous flexibility and greater choice and value for our customers.” But YouTube says it was the one who proposed to Disney the introduction of new genre-based tiers and packaging flexibility to give YouTube TV customers more choice.
In a statement Friday, YouTube claimed that Disney has “resorted to traditional tactics, including leaking documents to the press, using paid talent to negotiate in public, misrepresenting facts involving the proposed deal, and stealing credit for our product proposition. Our team stands ready to reach a fair deal in line with our deals with other distribution companies, and we encourage Disney to come to the table and do what’s best for our mutual customers.”
