In what has evolved into one of the most significant carriage disputes of recent years, The Walt Disney Company (Disney) and YouTube TV (owned by Alphabet Inc.) remain locked in a high-stakes negotiation that is keeping popular channels like ESPN, ABC Network, and others dark for roughly 10 million YouTube TV subscribers. The blackout began after their previous distribution deal expired on October 30, 2025 and still, no resolution has been reached.
Disney’s carriage agreement with YouTube TV expired at the end of October, and the companies failed to strike a renewal deal. As a result, YouTube TV dropped Disney-owned channels, including ABC and ESPN. Disney blames YouTube TV for refusing to pay fair market fees for its content, a rate aligned with what other distributors pay. YouTube TV says Disney is making costly economic demands that would force higher subscriber fees and unfairly benefit Disney’s direct to consumer platforms.
The Impact
- Disney is estimated to be losing about$4.3 million per day, or roughly$30 million per week, due to the blackout.
- Millions of live sports broadcasts and entertainment shows are unavailable to YouTube TV subscribers, including prime-time events such as Monday Night Football and key college-football games.
- YouTube TV is offering affected subscribers a one-time$20 creditin hopes of stemming cancellations.
Disney CEO Bob Iger has defended the company’s stance, noting that their offer to YouTube TV is equal to or better than what other large distributors have already agreed to.
Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said during a financial-call that “we’re ready to go as long as they want to,” signaling the company’s willingness to endure a long fight.
YouTube TV counters that Disney is leveraging its network power as a bargaining chip, and insists the deal offered would unfairly push costs onto consumers.
Why This Matters
- Shifting Power in Media: The dispute underscores how major content owners like Disney are trying to extract higher fees as traditional pay-TV subscriptions shrink, while streaming services are pressuring fees to avoid passing on higher costs to consumers.
- Consumer Frustration: For a typical YouTube TV subscriber paying around $82.99 per month, the sudden removal of major channels undermines the value proposition.
- Precedent Setting: With other carriage deals expiring soon, how this negotiation resolves may influence future deals across the industry— both programming fees and bundling structure.
What’s Next & What This Means for You
- Reports suggest that Disney and YouTube TV may be close to a deal for ABC and ESPN, though a full restoration of all Disney channels remains unclear.
- If no agreement is reached quickly, the blackout could drag on, further eroding subscriber loyalty for YouTube TV and advertising revenue for Disney.
If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, you may want to:
- Monitor your bill and see if the $20 credit has been applied (or whether you’re eligible).
- Evaluate how critical the missing Disney-owned channels are to your viewing habits— you may consider switching services or supplementing with alternate streaming options.
The standoff between Disney and YouTube TV is more than just another carriage dispute— it reflects the evolving economics of television in a streaming era. As both companies dig in, consumers are caught in the middle. For now, the channels stay dark, millions of viewers remain in limbo, and the broader media business watches closely.