After a two-week blackout, YouTube TV and Disney announced on Friday that they have finalized a new agreement.
The deal restores Disney-owned channels — including ABC, ESPN, and FX — to YouTube TV’s lineup. It also brings added benefits for subscribers, with ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer service set to be included on YouTube TV at no extra cost. Additionally, YouTube will gain the ability to sell select Disney networks and the Disney+/Hulu bundle through various package options.
In a joint statement, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden, along with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, said the agreement “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 a weekend full of great programming, including college football,” they added.
YouTube also issued a statement on Friday, noting that affected channels would return “throughout the course of the day,” and thanking customers for their patience. “We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf,” the company said.
While positioned as a cable TV alternative for cord-cutters, YouTube TV continues to face the same challenges as traditional providers, with disputes over carriage fees and content flexibility being common points of friction with major media companies.
The last YouTube–Disney renegotiation in 2022 resulted in a much shorter blackout. This time, YouTube offered customers a $20 credit to apply to their next bill as compensation for the disruption.
