YouTube TV is offering its subscribers a $20 credit after a week-long blackout of Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, ABC, FX, and National Geographic.
The outage began on October 31, after YouTube and Disney failed to reach a new carriage agreement. The dispute, which centres on pricing terms for Disney’s networks, has left millions of subscribers without access to some of the most-watched live TV channels.
Subscribers to receive $20 Credit.
A YouTube spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that affected subscribers will receive a $20 credit toward their next billing cycle.
The credits are currently being distributed, and users will receive email instructions on how to apply them to their accounts.
The company stated that if a new deal is reached, Disney’s channels will be restored within hours — although no specific timeline has been provided.
Dispute Over Channel Fees
As is typical with carriage standoffs between streaming platforms and major networks, the disagreement appears to revolve around content pricing and renewal rates.
YouTube TV claims Disney has proposed unreasonable price increases, while Disney argues that YouTube is “refusing to pay fair rates for our channels.”
The dispute has frustrated subscribers, particularly sports fans who are unable to access live ESPN programming during key fall events.
A Familiar Standoff
This isn’t the first time YouTube TV and Disney have clashed. The last blackout occurred in 2022, when Disney channels were pulled from the service for a single day. At that time, YouTube TV issued a $15 credit to affected customers and later reached a deal to restore service.
The latest dispute underscores the ongoing tension between streaming providers and legacy media companies, as both sides navigate rising costs and shifting viewer habits in the competitive live TV market.
