Disney warns that ESPN, ABC and other channels could go dark on YouTube TV

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Disney is warning YouTube TV subscribers that its channels could be removed if the two companies can’t reach an agreement in ongoing contract talks.

Disney and YouTube TV are currently facing difficulties reaching an agreement to continue offering Disney’s channels – like ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic, and Disney Channel – on the streaming service. YouTube TV has grown into a leading pay-TV provider in the U.S., with approximately 10 million subscribers.

As a big Disney fan, I’m a little worried right now! Apparently, if Disney and whoever provides my TV service don’t come to an agreement by next Thursday, I could lose channels like KABC-TV here in Los Angeles, and ABC stations all over the country. It’s a pretty stressful situation – I really don’t want to miss my shows!

As a huge movie and TV fan, I was pretty bummed to hear that YouTube TV and Disney might not be able to reach a deal. Apparently, if they don’t, Disney is going to pull all its shows and movies – everything from Marvel to Pixar to ESPN – off the service. YouTube TV put out a statement saying they’re trying to avoid this, but it sounds like things are getting tense!

Disney started warning viewers about the potential blackout by displaying messages on its television channels.

The Burbank-based entertainment company is now claiming that the tech giant is using its power to unfairly influence contract talks, joining a growing number of TV programmers making similar accusations.

Recently, Fox and NBCUniversal, the companies behind popular TV channels, both voiced concerns that Google’s YouTube TV was trying to negotiate unfairly during contract discussions. Ultimately, both companies reached new agreements with YouTube TV, preventing their channels from being removed from the service.

Univision didn’t have the same luck. Their channels stopped being available on YouTube TV last month because the two companies couldn’t agree on terms.

Disney criticized YouTube TV on Thursday, saying the service is again threatening to remove popular channels that subscribers pay for. A Disney representative accused Google, which owns YouTube TV, of prioritizing its own interests over its customers’.

Hollywood Inc.

YouTube TV removed Univision’s Spanish-language channels on Tuesday night, coinciding with a potential blackout of NBC channels. This move highlights YouTube TV’s growing power in the television market.

YouTube TV, for its part, alleged that Disney was the one making unreasonable demands.

YouTube TV has been trying to reach a fair agreement with Disney regarding payments for their shows and movies on the service. However, Disney is asking for terms that would likely increase prices for YouTube TV subscribers and limit what they can watch. YouTube TV believes these terms would also favor Disney’s competing live TV services, such as Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

Hulu + Live TV, owned by Disney, is a competitor to YouTube TV, offering a similar channel lineup. Disney is also currently working to buy Fubo, a streaming service focused on sports.

YouTube announced that if Disney channels are unavailable for a prolonged time, they will give customers a $20 credit.

The current contract dispute is making things even more strained after a similar situation earlier this year. In May, Disney’s longtime distribution head, Justin Connolly, left to work for YouTube TV. Disney actually sued to prevent him from taking the job, but a judge ultimately allowed the move to proceed. Connolly had been with Disney and ESPN for twenty years.

YouTube TV launched in April 2017 for $35 a month. The package of channels now costs $82.99.

YouTube TV now offers NFL Sunday Ticket, a popular package for watching out-of-market football games. They took over this service from DirecTV, which was losing a significant amount of money – over $100 million annually – to keep it running. You can add Sunday Ticket to your existing YouTube TV plan, or subscribe to it as a standalone option on YouTube.

Hollywood Inc.

Fox News and live sports channels will continue to be available on YouTube TV after the two companies reached a deal on Thursday.

YouTube brought in $54.2 billion in revenue last year, making it the second-highest earning television company, behind only Disney, according to MoffettNathanson research.

The disagreement is happening during a busy time for sports and television. Both professional and college football are currently being broadcast on ABC and ESPN, and the NBA season just started, with games also featured on ESPN. ABC’s regular fall television season began last month, bringing new episodes of popular shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “Abbott Elementary.”

ABC stations broadcast well-known news programs like “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight with David Muir.” Plus, many ABC stations, including those in Los Angeles, also air the game shows “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!”

As a huge fan of sports and great TV, I’m following the Disney/YouTube TV situation closely. Basically, Disney feels they’re putting a lot of money into creating amazing content, and they expect YouTube TV to pay a fair price for it. They’ve warned that if they can’t come to an agreement, YouTube TV subscribers could lose access to channels like ESPN and ABC, and that means missing out on everything from NFL and college football to NBA, NHL, and a ton of other shows I really enjoy. It’s a pretty serious standoff, and I’m hoping they can figure things out soon!

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2025-10-24 03:01