YouTube TV customers are no longer able to access any Disney-owned channels including popular networks like ESPN and ABC on the streaming service after Google failed to strike a new deal with the media giant and subsequently lost its contract.
[Update: YouTube announced that the two companies have reached an agreement and Disney content will be available on YouTube for subscribers.]
We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Disney to return their content to YouTube TV while preserving a $64.99/mo. price for our members. We have already started to restore access to Disney networks like ESPN and FX, including their live and on-demand content, as well as any recordings that were previously in your Library. We will also be turning on the local ABC stations over the course of the day.
YouTube TV loses access to 18 Disney-owned networks
YouTube TV subscribers will see that many channels have disappeared from the service including ESPN, ABC, FX, and National Geographic due to Google and Disney’s negotiations failing to come to a deal.
The failure to come to an agreement allegedly happened due to both companies being unable to meet in the middle. However, Google and Disney are still supposedly continuing talks on the matter.
“Our ask to Disney, as with all our partners, is to treat YouTube TV like any other TV provider – by offering us the same rates that services of a similar size pay, across Disney’s channels for as long as we carry them,” writes the search giant. “If Disney offers us equitable terms, we’ll renew our agreement,” Google claims.
Disney also issued a statement regarding the negotiations with Google saying, “they have declined to reach a fair deal with us based on market terms and conditions.”
“Members, we worked hard to avoid this but were unable to reach a fair deal with Disney,” YouTube TV said. “We regret to share that as of December 17, all Disney-owned channels are unavailable on YouTube TV. While Disney content remains off our platform, we’ll decrease our price by $15/month. We know how frustrating it is to lose channels like ESPN and your local ABC station, and will continue conversations with Disney in hopes of restoring their content for you.”
As a result of the loss of 18 channels, Google has reduced the cost of its monthly bundle by $15, from $64.99 to $49.99. Users who want the lost channels can still get them as part of a $13.99 package Disney itself offers.
The list of unavailable channels include:
- ABC News Live
- ABC local channels
- ACC Network
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPN3
- ESPNEWS
- ESPNU
- Freeform
- FX
- FXM
- FXX
- National Geographic
- National Geographic Wild
- SEC Network
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