YouTube TV Loses Disney Channels After They Fail to Reach Deal

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YouTube TV subscribers lost access to Disney channels after the two companies couldn’t agree on a new deal. This means viewers are now without content from Disney’s networks.

Disney has been busy with various agreements and acquisitions recently. However, there’s been a setback: several of Disney’s channels – including ESPN, ABC, Disney Channel, FX, National Geographic, and Freeform – are no longer available on YouTube TV, impacting subscribers who can no longer access that content.

This happened because Disney and Google couldn’t agree on a new deal by the October 30th deadline. They are still trying to reach an agreement, but it’s unknown when viewers will be able to watch Disney programs on Google platforms again.

Disney told CNN that Google’s YouTube TV is preventing its customers from watching channels like ESPN and ABC because they wouldn’t agree to reasonable pricing for the content.

Without a new deal, viewers will lose access to our channels, which feature top live sports like the NFL, NBA, and college football. This weekend alone, 13 of the 25 highest-ranked college football teams will be playing.

Google responded to the dispute with Disney, explaining that Disney threatened to remove its content from YouTube TV as a way to get a better deal. Google claims this tactic would raise prices for YouTube TV customers and unfairly benefit Disney’s own streaming services, like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. Google is asking Disney to agree to a fair resolution.

They later posted on X acknowledging that losing channels is frustrating, and stated they are still working with Disney to find a solution.

While the TV blackout may seem sudden to viewers, Disney had warned the public as early as last Thursday that it was a possibility. The issue stems from a financial dispute.

Disney is asking for more money from companies like Google to cover the cost and quality of its channels, especially ESPN. Disney believes its content is valuable and deserves fair payment. Google, however, argues that paying Disney more would force them to raise prices for YouTube TV subscribers and reduce the number of channels offered.

The following channels have been removed: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, Freeform, FX, FXX, FXM, Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, SEC Network, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, ABC News Live, ACC Network, and Localish. For those with the Spanish plan, ESPN Deportes, Baby TV Español, and Nat Geo Mundo have also been removed.

Fans Were Not Happy Over the Blackout

YouTube TV attempted to address concerns on social media by offering a $20 credit to customers if channels became unavailable for a prolonged time, but they ultimately paid for them anyway.

Several YouTube TV customers reacted strongly to the potential loss of Disney-owned channels like ABC and ESPN. One user commented that a $20 credit wouldn’t be enough to keep them as a subscriber if those channels were removed, stating they wouldn’t pay full price for a reduced service. Another user described the situation as a dispute between two greedy companies, with customers ultimately footing the bill for higher costs.

Another viewer urgently requested that ESPN be added to the service, particularly before Saturday’s college football games. They stated, “I’m cancelling my YouTube TV subscription by Saturday morning if ESPN isn’t available. You need to resolve this quickly, because I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.”

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2025-10-31 18:13