YouTube TV vs. Disney: When Will It End?

By Phillip Swann
The  TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, we just lost the Disney owned channels including ABC. How long do you think this will last? Do you think I need to go buy an antenna? Thanks! – Evan, town withheld.

Evan, YouTube TV this morning lost all Disney-owned channels, including ABC, FX and ESPN, when the two companies could not reach a new carriage agreement. The old agreement ended at 11;59 p.m. ET on Thursday night.

Both sides, of course, blame the other although there are some who feel one company is more to blame. See this story and that story for more on that.

YouTube TV, owned by Google, and Disney are fighting over how much the streamer should pay to carry the programmer’s channels. Other issues being discussed: Should YouTube TV subscribers get full and free access to the new ESPN Unlimited app, a benefit now offered by DIRECTV, Fubo, Verizon, Hulu Live and Spectrum TV.

Both companies are trying to make a lasting point here, perhaps particularly so with YouTube TV which now has 10 million subscribers and could soon the the nation’s largest pay TV distributor, passing Comcast and Spectrum TV. The streamer wants Disney, and every other programmer, to think that it needs it more than it needs them. Ergo, give us a better rate for your programming.

Consequently, I don’t see this impasse ending before this weekend’s college football action on ABC and ESPN, or even by Monday Night Football. The company positions are too rigid now to change much over the next 48 hours.

However, I would bet (not a lot, but, yes, would bet) that Disney and YouTube TV settle before next weekend’s football games. Neither side benefits from this blackout going for an extended period of time; Disney would be hurt by a ratings decline while YouTube TV will lose subscribers at a time when it has all the momentum in the pay TV business. It behooves them to find a solution sooner than later.

Evan, I hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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