**Disney Channels, Including ESPN, Return to YouTube TV After Two-Week Blackout**
After nearly two weeks of disruption, Disney and YouTube have reached a new agreement that restores Disney-owned channels—including ESPN, ABC, and FX—to YouTube TV’s live streaming platform. The deal, announced on Friday, brings an end to a blackout that began on October 30th, when more than 20 Disney channels disappeared from YouTube TV due to a breakdown in negotiations over carriage fees and contract terms.
**Background: The Blackout and Its Impact**
The dispute between Disney and YouTube TV, which is owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, centered on the renewal of their carriage agreement. Disney, which owns a wide range of popular networks like ABC, ESPN, FX, and National Geographic, was negotiating for better terms and higher carriage fees. YouTube TV, meanwhile, was seeking to keep costs down for its subscribers and maintain flexibility in its streaming offerings.
When negotiations stalled, Disney channels went dark for YouTube TV subscribers in late October, leaving millions without access to some of the most popular live sports, news, and entertainment programming. Fans were particularly frustrated over the loss of ESPN, which broadcasts major sporting events including college football, the NBA, and more. The blackout also affected viewers who relied on ABC for local news and programming.
**High-Level Intervention Leads to Resolution**
As the impasse stretched into its second week, the stakes grew higher for both companies. The blackout not only risked subscriber losses for YouTube TV, but also meant lost advertising revenue and reduced audience reach for Disney. According to reports from Variety, the situation prompted direct involvement from top executives at both companies, including Disney CEO Bob Iger and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Their intervention appears to have helped break the deadlock and paved the way for a new agreement.
**Details of the New Agreement**
While the specific financial terms of the new deal were not disclosed, both companies confirmed that the agreement would restore the full lineup of Disney channels to YouTube TV. This includes ABC, ESPN, FX, National Geographic, and several others—more than 20 in total. Importantly for sports fans, YouTube TV subscribers on the base plan will have access to ESPN’s “full lineup of sports” by the end of next year, ensuring continuity for major live events.
In a statement, YouTube said, “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 flexibility 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 were previously in their Library. We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf.”
Disney echoed these sentiments in its own statement, with Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro emphasizing their commitment to delivering