YouTube TV Offers Subscribers $20 Credit Amidst Ongoing Disney Dispute
YouTube TV is issuing a $20 credit to its subscribers as its carriage dispute with Disney continues, leaving ESPN and other Disney-owned networks unavailable on the platform. The company announced the credit via email to customers on Sunday, with instructions for redemption expected in a follow-up communication.
The $20 rebate was promised by YouTube TV should a resolution not be reached by Sunday, a commitment made prior to the blackout which began on Halloween. With the credit now being distributed, a swift agreement between the two companies appears unlikely. This means YouTube TV subscribers will again miss out on key programming, including this week’s Monday Night Football matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers – a notably significant game for both teams.
The core of the dispute centers on per-subscriber fees. According to a recent report in The Athletic, YouTube TV and Disney remain “far apart” on pricing. YouTube TV, currently the fourth-largest pay TV distributor, is seeking rates comparable to those paid by larger distributors, a position bolstered by projections indicating it could become the nation’s largest distributor as early as next year.
The ongoing blackout is proving costly for both sides. Disney is reportedly losing approximately $5 million in potential revenue per day,totaling around $50 million as of Sunday,based on an estimated $15 per month per subscriber value for the ESPN family of networks. YouTube TV is also likely experiencing subscriber losses and is hoping the $20 credit will mitigate the impact.
