YouTube TV subscribers woke up to a blackout of Disney-owned channels including ESPN, ABC, FX and National Geographic after the contract negotiations between Google and Disney failed to reach a new agreement before the deadline of October 30. The blackout of Disney channels on YouTube TV started around midnight ET on October 31, when the previous deal expired. Earlier this week, Disney also warned its subscribers about the potential disruption citing stalled negotiations over pricing. YouTube TV, which charges $82.99/month, said it was unwilling to accept Disney’s proposed rate hikes, calling them unfair to customers.
Sports fans hit hard
The timing for the blackout of Disney channels couldn’t be worst as it affects the access to college football, NFL, NBA, and NHL games broadcast on ESPN and ABC. Viewers in Florida, for example, will miss the highly anticipated Florida–Georgia rivalry game this Saturday. Disney’s sports networks including ACC Network and SEC Network are also unavailable, leaving fans without coverage of major playoff events and seasonal matchups.
What’s affected
The blackout impacts more than 20 channels, including:
In addition to live broadcasts, recorded content from Disney networks has also been removed from YouTube TV’s cloud DVR service.
What the companies are saying
Speaking about the issue, YouTube TV issued an official statement saying, “This decision directly harms our subscribers while benefiting their own live TV products, including Hulu + Live TV and Fubo”. On the other hand, Disney still maintains its stance that its pricing reflects the value of its content and the company has also asked the users to explore alternative platforms.
Meanwhile, YouTube TV has also promised a credit of $20 to subscribers if the blackout goes on for an extended period of time.
Sports fans hit hard
The timing for the blackout of Disney channels couldn’t be worst as it affects the access to college football, NFL, NBA, and NHL games broadcast on ESPN and ABC. Viewers in Florida, for example, will miss the highly anticipated Florida–Georgia rivalry game this Saturday. Disney’s sports networks including ACC Network and SEC Network are also unavailable, leaving fans without coverage of major playoff events and seasonal matchups.
What’s affected
The blackout impacts more than 20 channels, including:
- ABC local stations
- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU
- FX, FXX
- National Geographic
- Disney Channel and Disney Junior
In addition to live broadcasts, recorded content from Disney networks has also been removed from YouTube TV’s cloud DVR service.
What the companies are saying
Speaking about the issue, YouTube TV issued an official statement saying, “This decision directly harms our subscribers while benefiting their own live TV products, including Hulu + Live TV and Fubo”. On the other hand, Disney still maintains its stance that its pricing reflects the value of its content and the company has also asked the users to explore alternative platforms.
Meanwhile, YouTube TV has also promised a credit of $20 to subscribers if the blackout goes on for an extended period of time.
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