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Disney and YouTube TV<\/a> reached a new deal to bring channels like ABC and ESPN back to the Google-owned live streaming platform Friday, ending a\u00a0blackout for customers<\/a>\u00a0that dragged on for about two weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cAs part of the new deal, Disney\u2019s full suite of networks and stations \u2013 including ESPN and ABC \u2013 have already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers,\u201d The Walt Disney Co. said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football.\u201d<\/p>\n Disney content\u00a0had gone dark\u00a0on YouTube TV the night of Oct. 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 \u2014 notably disrupting coverage of top U.S.\u00a0college football matchups\u00a0and professional sports games, among other news and entertainment offerings.<\/p>\n Beyond ESPN and ABC, other Disney-owned content removed from YouTube TV during the impasse included channels like NatGeo, FX, Freeform, SEC Network, ACC Network and more.<\/p>\n At the time the carriage dispute reached its boiling point, YouTube TV said that Disney was proposing terms that would be too costly, resulting in higher prices and fewer choices for its subscribers. And the platform accused Disney of using the blackout \u201cas a negotiating tactic\u201d \u2014 claiming that the move also benefited Disney\u2019s own streaming products like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.<\/p>\n Disney, meanwhile, said that YouTube TV had refused to pay fair rates for its channels. The California entertainment giant also accused Google of \u201cusing its market dominance to eliminate competition.” And executives blasted the platform for pulling content \u201cprior to the midnight expiration” of their deal last month.<\/p>\n On Nov. 3, Disney also asked YouTube TV to restore ABC programming for\u00a0Election Day<\/a> on Nov. 4\u00a0to put \u201cthe public interest first.\u201d But YouTube TV said this temporary reprieve would confuse customers \u2014 and instead proposed that the entertainment giant agree to restore both its ABC and ESPN channels while the two sides continue negotiations.<\/p>\n The blackout marked the latest in growing list of licensing disputes in today’s streaming world. And consumers often pay the price.<\/p>\n From sports events to awards shows, live programming that was once reserved for broadcast has increasingly made its way into the streaming world over the years as more and more consumers ditch traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions for content they can get online. But amid growing competition, renewing carriage agreements can also mean tense contract negotiations \u2014 and at times service disruptions.<\/p>\n YouTube TV and Disney have been down this road before. In 2021, YouTube TV subscribers also\u00a0briefly lost access to all Disney content\u00a0on the platform after a similar contract breakdown between the two companies. That outage lasted less than two days, with the companies eventually reaching an agreement.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, YouTube TV has removed other networks from its platform after expired agreements. Spanish-language broadcaster Univision has been unavailable on YouTube TV since Sept. 30, for example. At the time, its parent company TelevisaUnivision decried Google’s move \u2014 noting it would strip \u201cmillions of Hispanic viewers of the Spanish-language news, sports, and entertainment they rely on every day\u201d and called on the platform to reverse course.<\/p>\n YouTube TV\u2019s base subscription plan costs $82.99 per month \u2014 which, beyond Disney content, currently includes live TV offerings from networks like NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS and more. The platform previously said it would give subscribers a $20 credit its dispute with Disney lasted \u201can extended period of time” \u2014 which it\u00a0reportedly<\/a>\u00a0allowed customers to start claiming on Nov. 9.<\/p>\n