Google-parent Alphabet and Disney announced that they’ve reached a deal to restore content from ABC and ESPN onto Google’s YouTube TV. YouTube TV and Disney reached the new carriage agreement, ending a two-week blackout that started on October 31. The stalemate pulled major networks including ABC, ESPN and FX from the streaming TV platform. The companies announced the deal Friday, saying it will restore Disney’s full slate of channels to YouTube TV and expand their partnership. As part of the agreement, ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service will be offered to YouTube TV subscribers at no additional cost. YouTube will also be permitted to sell select Disney networks and the Disney+/Hulu bundle through various package options.Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden, along with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, called the agreement one that “recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice.” They added that they were pleased to have the channels restored ahead of a busy weekend of programming, including college football.YouTube said subscribers would see channels return “throughout the course of the day”, apologizing for the disruption and thanking customers for their patience during negotiations. YouTube TV, positioned as a cable alternative for cord-cutters, has faced periodic clashes with major media companies over pricing and packaging rights. The last contract renewal with Disney in 2022 also resulted in a brief outage. During the latest standoff, YouTube offered affected customers a $20 credit on their next bill.
What YouTube said in its statement
“We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers,” YouTube said in a statement. “Subscribers should see channels including ABC, ESPN and FX returning to their service over the course of the day, as well as any recordings that were previously in their Library. We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf.”
What was YouTube vs Disney fight over
The main sticking point between the two companies — YouTube and Disney — was the rate Disney charges YouTube TV for its networks. Disney’s most valuable channel, ESPN, charges carriage of more than $10 a month per pay-TV subscriber, a higher fee than any other network in the US.
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