YouTube and Disney resolve Carriage Dispute, Restoring Channels too YouTube TV
Published November 15, 2025
After a tense two-week blackout, YouTube and Disney have reached an agreement to restore Disney’s networks - including ABC, ESPN, and FX – to YouTube TV. The resolution ends a carriage dispute that left millions of subscribers without access to popular channels.
YouTube announced the deal in a statement released Friday afternoon, stating, “We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future versatility in our offers. Subscribers should see channels including ABC, ESPN, and FX returning to their service over the course of the day, as well as any recordings that where previously in their library. We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf.”
The disruption impacted YouTube TV’s substantial subscriber base of 10 million users. Industry estimates suggested Disney was losing approximately $4 million per day during the blackout. Despite initial signals from Disney executives during an earnings call that they were prepared for a prolonged negotiation, the companies ultimately found common ground.
The swift resolution suggests that financial considerations ultimately outweighed the willingness to engage in a protracted battle, bringing relief to both companies and their shared audience.
