Disney networks Go Dark on YouTube TV After Contract Dispute
October 31,2025 – ESPN,ABC,and other Disney-owned networks are no longer available on YouTube TV following a breakdown in contract negotiations between the two companies. The blackout impacts YouTube TV’s approximately ten million subscribers.
Disney had proposed a distribution agreement offering some YouTube TV subscribers access to its ESPN+,Disney+,and Hulu streaming services at no additional cost,according to CNBC. However, YouTube TV reportedly sought to integrate this content directly onto its platform, a request Disney rejected.
A YouTube TV spokesperson stated the service is “working in good faith to negotiate a deal with Disney that pays them fairly for their content on YouTube TV,” but both sides remain at an impasse.
In a statement released on its blog, YouTube accused Disney of prioritizing its own streaming services, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, over its YouTube TV subscribers. The company announced it will offer a US$20 credit to subscribers if the content remains unavailable for an extended period. YouTube further claimed Disney proposed “costly economic terms” that would increase prices and limit choices for YouTube TV customers.
Disney countered, telling Reuters that Google, with a US$3 trillion market cap, is “using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms we’ve successfully negotiated with every other distributor.”
The dispute follows recent, albeit difficult, long-term distribution agreements reached between YouTube TV and NBCUniversal in October, as well as Fox and Paramount earlier in the year. However, YouTube TV previously dropped Univision at the end of September after failing to reach a new agreement.
