Disney and YouTube TV cut a new deal, ending blackout for customers

Disney and YouTube TV struck a new agreement Friday to restore channels such as ABC and ESPN to the Google-owned streaming service, ending a roughly two-week blackout for customers.

The Walt Disney Company announced a multi-year distribution agreement with YouTube TV that delivers Disney’s marquee sports, news and entertainment programming — along with greater choice and value for their customers,” The Walt Disney Co. said in a news release. “As part of the new deal, Disney’s full suite of networks and stations — including ESPN and ABC — have already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers.”

According to the release, the major elements of the agreement include the following:

• Carriage of Disney’s full linear portfolio including all the ESPN networks, ABC, the Disney-branded channels, Freeform, the FX Networks, and the National Geographic channels
• ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer service (Unlimited Plan) to be made available at no additional cost to YouTube TV subscribers
• Access to a selection of live and on-demand programming from ESPN Unlimited inside YouTube TV
• Select networks to be included in various genre-specific packages
• The ability to include the Disney+, Hulu Bundle as part of select YouTube offerings

This new agreement reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch,’’ Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in the release. “It recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice. We are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football.”

Disney content had gone dark on YouTube TV the night of October 30, after two sides failed to reach a new licensing deal. In the days that followed, YouTube TV subscribers were left without Disney channels on the platform — notably disrupting coverage of top U.S. college football matchups and professional sports games, among other news and entertainment offerings.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.