Disney and YouTube TV have reached a new deal, ending a two-week blackout of Disney-owned channels like ABC and ESPN on the Google-owned livestreaming platform.
After a two-week blackout that began on October 30, Disney and YouTube TV have successfully negotiated a new licensing agreement, restoring all Disney-owned channels, including ABC, ESPN, NatGeo, FX, Freeform, SEC Network, and ACC Network, to the Google-owned livestreaming platform. The dispute left YouTube TV subscribers without crucial college football, professional sports, news, and entertainment programming. Both companies publicly blamed each other during the impasse; YouTube TV accused Disney of proposing expensive terms and using the blackout as a negotiating tactic to benefit its own streaming services, while Disney argued YouTube TV refused to pay fair rates and leveraged its market dominance. As a result of the disruption, YouTube TV offered subscribers a $20 credit. This recent showdown marks another instance of licensing disagreements in the streaming industry, highlighting the challenges consumers face when such negotiations break down, a situation previously seen between Disney and YouTube TV in 2021 and with other broadcasters like Univision.
