Disney Channels Return to YouTube TV โฃAfter Content Dispute
Disney’s channels, including ESPN and ABC, have been restored to YouTube TV following โa deal reached between the twoโ companies, ending a blackout that โขbeganโข October 31. The agreement resolves a dispute overโฃ contract renewal terms and pricing, allowing subscribers โขto once againโ access live and on-demand programmingโข from Disney’s networks.
The conflict stemmed from disagreementsโฃ over โฃpayment rates, withโ Disney accusing Googleโฃ of refusing to pay “fair rates” โforโ its โchannels and Googleโข claiming disney used the threat of a blackout as a negotiating โคtactic to raise prices for customers. Disney Entertainment co-chairpersons alanโค Bergman and Dana Walden, along withโ ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, stated the new deal “recognizes the โขtremendous value of โDisney’s โฃprogramming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice.”
Under the terms of the new agreement,YouTube TV subscribers will receive access to selectโข live and library programming from ESPN Unlimited at noโข additional cost. Google โขwill also offer Disney+ and Hulu bundles to YouTube TV customers and introduce genre-based channelโค packages. YouTube TV has notified subscribers of the channel โขrestoration and โฃconfirmed that they can still โฃclaim โฃa previously offered $20 credit through โฃDecember 9.