Disney and YouTube TV strike deal to restore ESPN, ABC, and other channels

Disney and Google’s YouTube TV have finally reached on a new carriage agreement. After the agreement YouTube TV will restore the access to major Disney-owned channels including ESPN, ABC, FX and National Geographic.

Both the companies finalised the agreement after a brief blackout affected millions of subscribers. The dispute between YouTube TV and Disney started from a breakdown in negotiations over distribution fees which in turn led to Disney’s channels being pulled from YouTube TV earlier this week. This blackout also sparked frustration among subscribers, especially sports fans who lost access to ESPN during a busy NFL and college football season.

Under the new agreement, all previously removed channels will be reinstated immediately, and subscribers will regain access to live programming and on-demand content from Disney’s portfolio.

YouTube TV offered $20 credit to subscribers

In order to compensate the subscribers YouTube TV also issued a credit of $20 dollars after the prolonged blackout. YouTube TV announced that affected subscribers will receive a $20 credit applied to their next billing cycle.

Emails with instructions on how to claim the credit are currently being sent out. The company emphasized that it is working to resolve the dispute and restore Disney channels “within hours” once a new agreement is reached.

This isn’t the first time YouTube TV has issued credits during a content blackout. In 2022, subscribers received a $15 credit after a similar dispute temporarily removed Disney programming.

A win for the subscribers

In a joint statement, both companies expressed satisfaction with the resolution, emphasizing their commitment to delivering high-quality entertainment and sports content.

YouTube TV said it was “pleased to reach a deal that restores Disney content for our members,” while Disney noted its appreciation for the platform’s partnership.The deal ensures continued access to:

Both the companies have not yet disclosed the final terms of agreement. However, multiple online reports suggest that the agreement includes modest fee increases and multi-year distribution rights.