Media giant Disney and internet heavyweight Google have reached a new carriage agreement, ending a two-week standoff between the companies.
Disney’s channels went dark on YouTube TV, the Google-owned live-streaming platform, after the two parties failed to agree on terms for a carriage deal renewal by the October 30 deadline.
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The blackout left millions without access to live sports content from major broadcasters ESPN and ABC, including coverage of the 2025 NFL and college football seasons, as well as other professional sports, news, and entertainment.
The main dispute between the two companies was the rate Disney wanted to charge YouTube to carry its network, with YouTube claiming Disney was proposing costly terms that would lead to higher prices and fewer choices for its 10 million subscribers.
Disney countered that YouTube was refusing to pay fair rates for its channels.
However, in a statement on Friday evening, YouTube announced it had reached an agreement with Disney, adding: “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.
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By GlobalData“We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf.”
Along with access to more than 20 Disney-owned channels, the new multi-year deal includes unlimited access to ESPN’s new flagship streaming service at no additional cost. Stand-alone subscriptions to the ESPN app are $30 per month.
The ‘duo bundle’ of Disney+ and Hulu will also be made available in “select YouTube offerings”.
In a joint statement, Alan Bergman and Dana Walden, Disney Entertainment’s co-chairmen, and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, said: “This new agreement reflects our continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch.
“It recognizes the tremendous value of Disney’s programming and provides YouTube TV subscribers with more flexibility and choice. We are pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football.”
YouTube TV, meanwhile, has offered its subscribers $20 credits this week due to the dispute and said it has the option for future program packages with Disney and other partners.
Since its launch in 2017, YouTube TV has grown into one of the top US pay-TV platforms, this year securing six carriage agreements, including with heavyweights like Charter Spectrum, and Comcast. It now costs $89.99 per month for its full suite of available channels.
However, some of those agreements have come with their own conflicts due to increases in fees.
NBCUniversal content was almost removed from YouTube TV earlier this year, but the pair managed to reach an agreement in October, preventing a blackout of Sunday Night Football.
In August, YouTube also had a standoff with media giant Fox, which nearly saw the Fox News, Fox Sports, and other Fox channels being removed from the service ahead of the college football season.
